Get you up to speed: USA hit Paraguay for four in dream start to their World Cup campaign
The United States defeated Paraguay 4-1 in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup in Los Angeles, with Folarin Balogun scoring twice and Giovanni Reyna adding a late goal. The match, attended by a sold-out crowd including celebrities, positioned the US favourably within Group D.
The match took place on 13 June 2026 at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles, marking the first game hosted by the United States in the 2026 World Cup. Following the match, the US is positioned to advance from Group D, which includes Australia and Turkiye, while the health status of Christian Pulisic, who left the match at half-time, remains under evaluation.
Following the United States’ 4-1 victory over Paraguay, FIFA commended the successful opening match of the 2026 World Cup, highlighting the strong performances by cohosting nations. The US team is set to assess the condition of Christian Pulisic, who was substituted at half-time, ahead of their next Group D fixture against Australia.
USA defeat Paraguay 4-1 in winning start to World Cup campaign
USA beat Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles as each of the three World Cup cohosts have now staged a game in the 2026 edition.
The United States could scarcely have scripted a better start to their World Cup as a Folarin Balogun brace and a Gio Reyna curler fired the cohosts to a 4-1 drubbing of Paraguay in front of Hollywood royalty in Los Angeles.
The hosts took the lead in the tournament’s first game on US soil within seven minutes thanks to an own goal, and by the end of an utterly dominant half, the home fans were in dreamland, their side up by three.
Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and Paris Hilton were among a sold-out 70,492 crowd as the US – cohosting the tournament with Mexico and Canada – piled wave after wave of attacks on the South Americans, with Reyna polishing off the win late in stoppage time after Mauricio had pulled one back.
The win and emphatic scoreline put the US in a favourable position already to progress from Group D, which also contains Australia and Turkiye.
The night’s only potential sour note was the half-time withdrawal of Christian Pulisic, the US attacking talisman who is carrying the hopes of the nation as they attempt a deep run into the World Cup knockouts for the first time since their quarterfinal appearance in 2002.
Paraguay could not have been more obliging guests from kickoff. In the seventh minute, Weston McKennie picked up the ball in the centre circle and drove upfield, finding Pulisic.
Pulisic darted between two defenders and returned the ball to McKennie, whose pass to striker Balogun was bundled into his own net by a hapless Damian Bobadilla.
The stadium erupted, and a US onslaught began.
The hosts oozed confidence. Both McKennie and Tillman played backheel through balls into the area, while captain Tim Ream sprayed out passes from the heart of defence.
USA midfielder Giovanni Reyna scores his team’s fourth goal [Valerie Macon/AFP]
Balogun had a goal ruled out in the 28th minute. He had strayed offside, as had Pulisic in the buildup.
But the Monaco striker had the ball in the net again three minutes later, thanks to a superb ball down the left flank by Antonee Robinson to Pulisic, whose cross to Balogun took a slight fortuitous deflection.
The US added a third on the cusp of half-time. Tillman found Balogun down the right, who evaded Omar Alderete’s challenge, skipped inside Gustavo Gomez and curled his shot perfectly into the top left corner.
It could have been four or five, with Chris Richards – returning from injury – flashing a header barely an inch wide. The US had 75 percent possession in the first half.
Now, without the dangerous Pulisic, the hosts sat back slightly in the second half.
Paraguay finally offered a threat. Their dangerous forward Julio Enciso, who started despite a hamstring injury, picked up the ball on the edge of the area and fed in Brazil-born substitute Mauricio, who pulled one back.
Reyna scored a superb fourth with the outside of his right foot that curled just inside the far post.
The game had been preceded by a Tinseltown-style opening ceremony. Katy Perry delivered the headline performance, accompanied by singers Future, Tyla, Anitta and K-pop singer Lisa.
Performers danced around a giant World Cup trophy beneath enormous “FIFA” letters in the gold favoured by US President Donald Trump – who did not attend, instead wishing the team luck via phone before kickoff.