2026 World Cup: What a start for the U.S.—Paraguay left reeling

The United States kicked off its 2026 World Cup, as the host nation for most of the scheduled matches, with a clear and convincing 4-1 victory over Paraguay in the opening match of Group D of the competition, which, in addition to the U.S. and La Albirroja, also features Turkey and Australia.

Mauricio Pochettino’s team started off strong and broke the deadlock early, in the 7th minute, thanks to an own goal by Bobadilla, who was unlucky to deflect a cross from Juventus’ McKennie into the net. The second goal came in the 31st minute from a play set up by Pulisic, another “Italian” on Mauricio Pochettino’s squad: the Milan player broke through on the left and found Balogun, who did well to stay onside and made it 2-0.

In stoppage time of the first half, the U.S. made it three: Malik Tillman played a perfect through ball to Balogun, who beat two defenders, finished with his left foot, and slotted the ball into the top corner. The Monaco forward’s brace is the first of this World Cup, now in its fourth match.

Paraguay, stunned in the first half, found some courage in the second and pulled one back in the 73rd minute through Mauricio, who capitalized on a gap on the left side of the box, but in the closing minutes, in the eighth minute of extra-long stoppage time, the United States restored their two-goal lead: Giovanni Reyna, who came on in the 82nd minute for Tillman, sealed the match with a curling right-footed shot that made it 4-1.