The Americans answered with a 4-1 victory that felt like control
On a Friday night 32 years in the making, the United States men's national team opened its home World Cup at SoFi Stadium with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay — a result that felt less like a scoreline and more like a declaration. Folarin Balogun, scoring twice in his tournament debut, became the first American to achieve that feat since 1930, while a fluid, purposeful attack revealed a team that has grown into something worth believing in. The win was not without its shadows — Christian Pulisic left at halftime with a calf injury, and second-half defensive lapses offered a quieter warning — but for one night in Inglewood, the long wait felt worth it.
- Thirty-two years of anticipation compressed into 90 minutes, with 70,000 fans inside SoFi Stadium demanding something historic — and the U.S. delivered it early.
- Folarin Balogun's brace and Christian Pulisic's creative orchestration built a three-goal halftime lead that Paraguay, one of qualifying's stingiest defenses, had no answer for.
- Pulisic's mysterious halftime exit with a calf injury cast a shadow over the celebration, raising urgent questions about the team's most important player ahead of a brutal group stage.
- A second-half lapse in concentration allowed Paraguay a consolation goal, exposing defensive vulnerabilities that have haunted this team all year and will need answering against Australia.
- Gio Reyna's stoppage-time strike sealed the margin and the message: the U.S. enters Group D not just as hosts, but as a team with genuine tournament ambition.
The United States opened its home World Cup with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood — a performance that felt, in its best moments, like a team finally arriving on the stage it had been building toward. Before more than 70,000 spectators, the Americans constructed a three-goal halftime lead with a combination of speed, shape, and finishing that kept Paraguay perpetually off balance.
The opening goal came in the seventh minute, an own goal by Damián Bobadilla that was anything but accidental. Tim Ream, at 38 the oldest American ever to play in a World Cup match, disrupted a Paraguay pass deep in U.S. territory. The ball moved quickly through Chris Richards and Alex Freeman to Weston McKennie, who carried it forward and fed Pulisic on the wing. Pulisic split two defenders, created space in the box, and when McKennie tried to square to Balogun, Bobadilla's desperate intervention sent the ball into his own net — a goal that revealed exactly how fast and fluid this U.S. side could be.
Balogun's first came in the 31st minute, a clean one-touch finish from a Pulisic pass after Antonee Robinson's weighted ball down the left flank. His second was something more: receiving a midfield thread from Malik Tillman, he beat two defenders and lifted an unstoppable shot into the top left corner. It made him the first American to score multiple goals in a World Cup match since 1930.
The second half complicated the story. Pulisic did not return after halftime — a calf injury, Pochettino confirmed — and without him, U.S. concentration drifted. Paraguay found a goal through Mauricio after a Julio Enciso setup, a reminder that defensive lapses have followed this team all year. Tillman missed a chance to restore the cushion, but Gio Reyna, entering late, converted in stoppage time to close it out.
The defensive wobble was real, but it didn't diminish what the first half had announced. The U.S. sits in strong position in Group D heading into next Friday's match against Australia in Seattle, having shown a Paraguay side that had conceded just 10 goals across 18 qualifying matches exactly what kind of team they are facing.
The United States men's national team opened its World Cup on home soil Friday night with a performance that felt like a release—32 years of waiting for this moment, and when it arrived at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, the Americans answered with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay that was both commanding and, in stretches, beautiful to watch.
Before 70,492 spectators, the U.S. built a three-goal lead by halftime, a feat that hadn't happened since 2002, when they beat Portugal 3-2 in their opener. That earlier match ended in desperation; this one felt like control. Folarin Balogun scored twice in his World Cup debut, making him the first American to score multiple goals in a tournament match since 1930. Christian Pulisic orchestrated the early assault with both creativity and finishing touch, though he departed at the break with a calf injury after taking a kick to the back of his left leg. Weston McKennie and the rest of Mauricio Pochettino's lineup moved the ball with purpose and pace, keeping Paraguay—a team that had conceded just 10 goals across 18 qualifying matches—perpetually off balance.
The opening goal arrived in the seventh minute, an own goal by Damián Bobadilla that felt earned rather than lucky. Tim Ream, at 38 the oldest American ever to play in a World Cup match, disrupted a pass near the U.S. penalty area. From there, the ball moved through Chris Richards to Alex Freeman, whose pass found McKennie in stride. McKennie carried it forward, sidestepped a challenge, and fed Pulisic on the wing. Pulisic split two defenders, created space for McKennie in the box, and when McKennie tried to square to Balogun, Bobadilla's desperate intervention sent the ball into his own net. It was the kind of goal that reveals a team's shape and speed—Paraguay couldn't recover from the transition.
Balogun's first legitimate goal came in the 31st minute. Antonee Robinson sent a long, weighted pass to Pulisic surging down the left flank. Pulisic found Balogun in the box, and the striker finished with one touch, a 12-yard strike to the far corner. By halftime, Balogun had added another. Malik Tillman threaded a pass from midfield to Balogun, who beat Omar Alderete with a touch, pulled the ball away from Gustavo Gomez, and lifted an unstoppable shot into the top left corner. The U.S. had dominated possession so thoroughly that goalkeeper Matt Freese, making his World Cup debut, was barely tested.
The second half brought complications. Pulisic's absence—replaced by Sebastian Berhalter—was announced without explanation, though Pochettino indicated it would be addressed after the match. The U.S. concentration wavered early, and Paraguay found a goal when Julio Enciso set up Mauricio for a clean finish. It was a reminder that the Americans have wrestled with defensive vulnerabilities throughout the year. Malik Tillman squandered a clear chance to restore the three-goal margin, but Gio Reyna, entering in the 82nd minute, didn't waste his opportunity in stoppage time, converting an assist from Freeman with a strike of his own.
The late defensive lapse didn't erase what had come before. The U.S. had announced itself in Group D with authority, positioning itself well ahead of next Friday's match against Australia in Seattle. Paraguay, returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2010, had been overwhelmed by a team that looked both confident and hungry—the kind of opening performance that can set the tone for a tournament run.
Notable Quotes
Pochettino indicated he would address Pulisic's substitution after the match— Team spokesman
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
What struck you most about how the U.S. played in that first half?
The speed of transition. They weren't just moving the ball sideways; they were moving it forward, and Paraguay couldn't recover. By the time Paraguay's defenders reset, the Americans were already creating the next chance.
Balogun scoring twice in his debut—how rare is that at a World Cup?
It hasn't happened for the U.S. since 1930. He came in off a good season in France, but this was a different stage. He looked composed, clinical. The kind of performance that can change a tournament.
Pulisic left at halftime. How much does that matter?
That's the question now. He was creating and finishing, pulling the strings. If it's serious, it changes everything about how the U.S. attacks. If it's precautionary, it's a relief.
The second half looked different—Paraguay scored, the U.S. gave up chances.
That's the worry. They were so dominant early that when they relaxed, the cracks showed. Defensive problems have followed this team all year. One good half doesn't erase that.
What does this win mean for what comes next?
It's a strong start in a winnable group. But tournaments aren't won in openers. It's about whether they can sustain this level and tighten up defensively when it matters most.