USMNT opens 2026 World Cup with historic 4-1 victory over Paraguay

The United States men’s national team began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The result marks the first time the USMNT has scored four goals in a single World Cup fixture and equals their largest winning margin in the tournament, a record previously established in 1930.

Folarin Balogun made history on his international debut by scoring twice, becoming the first US player to achieve multiple goals in his first appearance for the national team. The forward’s performance was supported by an early assist from Christian Pulisic, who helped control the tempo during the first half. The USMNT scored three goals before the break, establishing a dominant position in Group D.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino made a notable tactical shift at halftime, substituting Pulisic for Sebastian Berhalter. The decision drew immediate scrutiny from the sold-out crowd of 70,492 spectators. Fox sideline reporter Jenny Taft reported that Pulisic communicated “I’m good” to individuals in the friends-and-family section upon leaving the pitch. Pochettino is expected to address the reasoning behind removing the 27-year-old forward so early in the tournament.

The match also featured the tournament’s first significant Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervention. Referee Danny Makkelie initially issued a yellow card to defender Tim Ream for a tackle on Paraguay’s Miguel Almirón, but the decision was overturned following a video review. Paraguay managed to score a goal in the 73rd minute through a player identified as Mauricio, disrupting the USMNT’s rhythm.

Without Pulisic to start the second half, the USMNT struggled to regain their early momentum, conceding the late goal before Gio Reyna secured the victory with a strike in the eighth minute of stoppage time. The team now prepares to face Australia in Seattle on June 19, aiming to extend their perfect start to the group stage.