Home / Sports / USA Dominates Paraguay in World Cup Opener
USA Dominates Paraguay in World Cup Opener
13 Jun
Summary
- Pulisic created two early goals, setting a dominant tone for the U.S.
- Folarin Balogun scored two goals, including a brilliant strike before halftime.
- A VAR review corrected a 'mistaken identity' foul, showcasing a new rule.
The United States launched its 2026 FIFA World Cup journey with a resounding 4-1 triumph against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium. Star player Christian Pulisic set the tone early, creating two goals within the first thirty minutes. Folarin Balogun, a striker recruited from England, then netted two goals, the second a spectacular shot just before the halftime whistle, giving the U.S. a commanding 3-0 lead.
The first half was described as arguably the best 45 minutes of soccer the U.S. men's team has ever played in a World Cup. Despite Pulisic being substituted at halftime, a move that raised some concern, and Paraguay managing to score in the 73rd minute, the U.S. sealed their dominant performance with a fourth goal from substitute Gio Reyna.
This match also saw the introduction of a new VAR review for 'mistaken identity.' The system overturned a yellow card issued to Tim Ream, correctly identifying Miguel Almirón for embellishment after a foul. This showcased a novel application of technology in the tournament, intended to ensure fairer calls going forward.
