Soccer

U.S. Opens FIFA World Cup 2026 With 4-1 Win Over Paraguay

Balogun's brace and Reyna's late strike lead a dominant performance ahead of a Seattle showdown

Opening Match Highlights

The U.S. men's national team began its 2026 World Cup campaign in Group D with a convincing 4-1 victory over Paraguay in Inglewood, California, at the SoFi Stadium.

Folarin Balogun opened the scoring early, finishing a swift counterattack, and added a second before halftime to put the Americans in control.

Paraguay's night went from bad to worse when defender Damian Bobadilla inadvertently turned a cross into his own net, extending the lead to 2-0.

Giovanni Reyna capped the scoring in stoppage time, slotting home a third for the U.S. after a sustained pressure, sealing a 4-1 result.

What’s Next

The win sets up a highly anticipated clash with Australia in Seattle on June 19, where the Americans will look to maintain momentum on the West Coast.

Meanwhile, Paraguay will travel to San Francisco for their next Group D encounter against Turkey, aiming to rebound from the opening loss.

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