USMNT Crushes Paraguay 4-1 in World Cup Opener at Home

The United States opened their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday night, giving 80,000 fans at Los Angeles Stadium a performance to remember.

Christian Pulisic set the tone just seven minutes in, beating two defenders and finding Weston McKennie in the box. McKennie's attempted cross deflected off Paraguay's Damián Bobadilla for an own goal, and the rout was on.

The Americans controlled the first half completely, adding a second goal in the 31st minute when Folarin Balogun one-timed a pass from Pulisic past Paraguay's goalkeeper. The Monaco forward wasn't done yet.

In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Balogun received a perfect through ball from Malik Tillman, muscled off his defender, and fired a left-footed strike into the top corner. With that goal, Balogun became the first American to score twice in a World Cup match since the tournament's inaugural edition in 1930.

Paraguay pulled one back in the 73rd minute through substitute Maurício, briefly threatening a comeback. But any drama ended in the eighth minute of stoppage time when Gio Reyna sealed the victory with a stunning curved shot from outside the box.

That fourth goal gave the United States the most goals ever scored by the men's team in a single World Cup match. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino called it possibly the best half his team has played together.

The Ripple Effect

This World Cup marks America's first time hosting since 1994, when the tournament helped spark the creation of Major League Soccer two years later. Now, with professional soccer thriving across the country and a new generation of American players competing at Europe's top clubs, this tournament could inspire millions more young Americans to fall in love with the beautiful game.

The victory puts the United States atop Group D heading into their next match against Australia in Seattle on June 19.

After 32 years, the world's biggest sporting event is back on American soil, and the home team just announced they're here to compete.