INGLEWOOD, California — The United States opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday, delivering an emphatic start to the tournament it is co-hosting and taking an early lead in Group D, according to match officials and tournament organizers.
The Americans seized control early at SoFi Stadium, going ahead in the opening minutes through an own goal credited to Paraguay midfielder Damián Bobadilla. Forward Folarin Balogun then scored twice before halftime as the hosts built a three-goal advantage before the break, according to official match reports.
Paraguay improved after the interval and pulled a goal back in the second half, but substitute Gio Reyna added a late fourth goal to secure the result for the United States and cap a dominant opening performance. Match reports said the Americans controlled much of the contest and created numerous scoring opportunities.
The victory marked a significant opening statement for a U.S. team playing its first World Cup match on home soil since 1994. The tournament, hosted jointly by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is the first World Cup to feature 48 teams.
Balogun's two-goal performance was central to the result. The striker finished a first-half chance to double the lead before adding a second goal in stoppage time before halftime. Christian Pulisic, one of the team's most prominent players, contributed to the attack before being substituted at halftime as a precaution, according to media reports.
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino praised his team's approach after the match.
"We started the game really well and were very aggressive," Pochettino said, according to post-match reports. "The players showed the mentality we wanted."
Paraguay, meanwhile, struggled to contain the American attack during the opening 45 minutes. The South American side created more opportunities after halftime but was unable to mount a sustained comeback.
The result leaves the United States well positioned in Group D at the start of the tournament. Tournament schedules show the Americans are next due to face Australia, while Paraguay will seek to recover points in its second group-stage match.
With the opening match complete, the United States remains atop its group standings, while Paraguay faces added pressure heading into the next round of fixtures.
