The United States kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in style with a dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Folarin Balogun starred with a brilliant brace, while relentless American pressure forced an early own goal from Damian Bobadilla. Substitute Gio Reyna added the fourth to complete an impressive performance by Mauricio Pochettino’s side. After entering the tournament under pressure following inconsistent pre-World Cup results, the USA silenced critics with a commanding first-half display that saw them race to a 3-0 lead. Christian Pulisic praised the team’s energy and focus after the win.
Elsewhere, co-hosts Canada earned their first-ever World Cup point with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina.