The United States delivered a statement performance in the opening match on home soil at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defeating Paraguay 4-1 in a dominant Group D encounter at the Los Angeles Stadium.
Backed by a sold-out crowd of 70,492 fans and watched by several Hollywood celebrities, the tournament co-hosts produced an electrifying display that immediately boosted their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage.
The Americans got off to a dream start when Paraguay’s Damian Bobadilla inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the seventh minute, handing the hosts an early advantage and igniting celebrations inside the stadium.
The US maintained relentless pressure throughout the first half, with striker Folarin Balogun emerging as the star of the show. After having an earlier effort ruled out for offside, Balogun doubled the lead in the 31st minute before adding a sensational second goal just before halftime to make it 3-0.
Midfielders and defenders combined brilliantly throughout the opening period, with the United States controlling possession and creating numerous chances while Paraguay struggled to cope with the intensity and pace of the hosts.
The only concern for the American camp came at halftime when captain and talisman Christian Pulisic was withdrawn, raising concerns about his fitness as the tournament progresses.
Paraguay showed more attacking intent after the break and managed to reduce the deficit through substitute Mauricio, who capitalized on a well-worked move initiated by forward Julio Enciso.
However, any hopes of a comeback were extinguished when Giovanni Reyna produced a moment of brilliance in stoppage time, curling a superb effort into the far corner to seal a convincing 4-1 victory for the hosts.
The emphatic win places the United States in a strong early position in Group D, which also features Australia and Turkey, and sends a clear message about their ambitions of making a deep run in the tournament.
The match was preceded by a star-studded opening ceremony featuring performances by Katy Perry, Future, Tyla, Anitta, and Lisa, adding to the spectacle of the tournament’s opening night in Los Angeles.
With confidence soaring and three points secured, the United States could hardly have asked for a better start to their home World Cup campaign.
