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United States 4-1 Paraguay: record-breaking start for ruthless World Cup co-hosts
The United States scored four goals in a World Cup game for the first time in their history, putting Paraguay to the sword in a highly impressive opening performance at a jubilant SoFi Stadium.
Damián Bobadilla’s own goal steered in Weston McKennie’s low cross to give the co-hosts lift off after just seven minutes, before a 19-minute brace from Folarin Balogun put the outstanding co-hosts in dreamland at half time.
Palmeiras midfielder Maurício would come off the bench to score his first ever international goal and put a small blemish on an otherwise perfect night for the co-hosts in Los Angeles, rounded off by Gio Reyna’s record-breaking 97th minute strike.
Pochettino’s side also equaled their greatest ever winning margin set way back in 1930, when the countries last met in the tournament, and kept their 19-year unbeaten run against La Albirroja intact in one of the national team’s finest ever performances.
As it happened
The United States began brightly save for a scare as Gomez’s cross just to the left sailed past the face of Matt Freese’s goal, and were ahead in no time at all when McKennie got away from his man with some quick feet and burst through the middle.
Pulisic then managed to wriggle around right-back Juan Cáceres and into the penalty area before shifting it back to McKennie and seeing his low cross turned into the net by Bobadilla, handing Mauricio Pochettino’s men the early advantage.
Former Brighton winger Julio Enciso was dropping slightly deeper than his strike partner Antonio Sanabria when out of possession to provide extra cover centrally, but the US had already seen plenty of penetration through that area.
Proving incredibly hard to contain, Pulisic made a darting run in behind on the left wing and raced into the penalty area before making it harder for Balogun to miss, and the striker slotted it home with his first touch to put the US in cruise control.
The Monaco forward had been denied by quite the late offside call moments ago, but Paraguay simply afforded him far too much space inside the penalty area and Balogun punished them severely just after the half hour mark.
His second came in the fifth minute of first half stoppage time, setting off early and in behind Alderete to meet Tillman’s through ball and curling a superb left-footed strike into the top corner, giving Orlando Hill no chance.
Paraguay were building towards a resurgence inside the opening five minutes of the second half, only for VAR to halt proceedings and recommend that referee Danny Makkelie booked Miguel Almirón for what proved to be on replay a clear dive, revoking the visitors’ free kick to the right of the box in addition to Tim Ream’s yellow card.
Gustavo Alfaro’s side pulled one back with just under 20 minutes to go when the United States refused to deal with goalkeeper Gil’s smash up the pitch and Enciso had the composure to control the ball amid a crowd of markers and stab it through to Maurício.
He too kept a cool head to the left of goal and caressed the shot into the bottom right corner to grab his first goal for Paraguay.
But Reyna ultimately had the last laugh as he refused to let a record escape the co-hosts at full-time, smashing home from the edge of the penalty area to cap off a truly memorable night for USMNT.
The United States closed out the game in relative control to go top of Group D, and take on Australia in their next match in six days’ time while Paraguay must regroup before facing Turkiye on the 20th of June.
Analysis: Pochettino has United States firing again with records almost falling
The United States couldn’t have dreamt of a much better start to their 2026 World Cup campaign, the first on home soil since 1994 when they reached the quarter-finals.
This was no surprise with the numerous harkenings back to the national team’s best ever performance on the world stage that came 96 years ago in Uruguay.
USMNT hadn’t won a World Cup game by three goals since that memorable campaign in 1930, nor had one of their players scored a hat-trick since then.
Folarin Balogun likely had that echoing in his head before being substituted in the 71st minute. Likely to protect him from injury, it shows just how important of a role he will play in his country’s World Cup campaign.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side were ruthless and unforgiving, forcing high turnover after high turnover and playing with an energy unbeknownst to the home faithful for some time.
Organising into a back three of Tim Ream, Chris Richards, and inverted full-back Alex Freeman while in possession, this provided a solid base for their midfield and forward units to attack with such freedom and ultimately dismantle Paraguay’s defence.
No one took advantage of Pochettino’s modernized approach more than Christian Pulisic. The AC Milan winger put in an electric display, completing three of his five dribbles and creating two big chances – the South Americans simply had no answer.
Pulisic’s off the ball movement, combined with Weston McKennie and Balogun’s confidence carrying it forward, was harnessed to great effect as the US were 3-0 up at half time.
To put tonight’s victory into context, the United States have already scored as many goals in one half of their opening game as they did in their whole 2022 campaign in Qatar.
Pochettino has got the side whose country was once criticized for being chosen to host the tournament at a time when it lacked a professional outdoor league playing at a level that could see them into the round of 32.
Analysis: Paraguay handed reality check on World Cup return
Tonight’s match marked a proud moment for Paraguay as they returned to football’s greatest competition for the first time since South Africa hosted the tournament in 2010, but it was a game they must now swiftly move on from.
They were outclassed for almost the entire game and offered very little on the attacking front in the first half, with their star boy Julio Enciso often finding himself crowded out and frequently robbed of the ball before he could spark an attack.
It is a squad that profits from several talents in addition to the former Brighton man. Diego Gómez has enjoyed a breakout season at Enciso’s former employers, registering five goals and one assist from 32 Premier League appearances.
Miguel Almirón is no stranger to elite level football either, having amassed 223 appearances in the English top flight with Newcastle United. Both were substituted with 10 minutes remaining.
Enciso did end a torrid 90 minutes with a goal involvement, setting up Maurício for a smart finish into the bottom corner of the net to rid Matt Freese of his clean sheet.
Yet it was a moment that, while significant for the 24-year-old on a personal level and one he will remember for the rest of his life, meant very little in the context of the wider match.
For more detailed reports, reaction, and analysis of the World Cup as it happens, head to our website and favourite our page on OneFootball.
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