USA vs Paraguay result: USA beat Paraguay 4-1 in 2026 World Cup opener
USA started their 2026 World Cup with a 4-1 win over Paraguay on Friday night. The game was at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Folarin Balogun scored twice. Gio Reyna added one late.
Paraguay got an own goal in the 6th minute. Then Maurício pulled one back for them. USA vs Paraguay ended with the US top of Group D. Balogun was man of the match. The crowd was loud all night.
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USA vs Paraguay: Match Intro
USA beat Paraguay 4-1 in the 2026 World Cup on Friday. Kickoff was at SoFi Stadium in LA. Balogun scored two goals for the USMNT. Reyna got one in stoppage time. Paraguay scored through Maurício after the break.
They also had an own goal in the 6th minute. Bobadilla put it in his own net. The USA had most of the ball. Paraguay sat back then pushed late. The win puts USA top of Group D on goal difference. Three points in the bag. Fans left happy.
USA vs Paraguay: First Half Summary
The USA came out fast. They pressed high from the start. Paraguay tried to sit deep in a 4-4-2. That plan broke early. Pulisic and McKennie worked the ball down the right. Cross came in. Bobadilla tried to clear it. He only deflected it in. 1-0 USA in the 6th minute. Own goal. SoFi Stadium went crazy. The USA kept pushing.
Balogun had a goal ruled out for offside. It did not matter long. He scored for Real in the 30th minute. Pulisic fed him. The finish was calm. 2-0. USA had 63 to 75 percent possession in the half. Paraguay barely got out. Dest missed a chance to make it 3 before halftime. Then Balogun struck again right before the whistle. 45+4. Tillman set him up. 3-0 at half. The game looked done already.
USA vs Paraguay: Turning Point
The own goal at 6 minutes was the key. Bobadilla put it past his own keeper. The USA got ahead so early. Paraguay had to chase the game. They could not sit and counter like they wanted. That opened space for Balogun. He ran channels all night. The second goal at 30 minutes made it 2-0.
After that Paraguay was done. They tried a higher press in the second half. But it just left gaps. The USA used those gaps late. Reyna scored 90+7 to make it 4-1. The game was over once that own goal went in. Paraguay never recovered.
Goals and Key Moments
6’ Own goal. Bobadilla deflects cross from Pulisic and McKennie. 1-0 USA
30’ Balogun scores. Pulisic assist. Simple finish. 2-0 USA
45+4’ Balogun again. Tillman plays him in. 3-0 USA
72’ Maurício scores for Paraguay. Enciso assist. 3-1
90+7’ Reyna finishes it. Freeman assist. 4-1 USA
Missed: Balogun had one ruled out for offside before his first goal
Missed: Dest should have scored early to make it 2-0
Saves: Paraguay keeper Gill stopped Pepi later to keep it 3-1 for a bit
Injury: Richards had a scare but played on
Player Performance
Man of the match: Folarin Balogun. Two goals. Always moving. He gave Paraguay problems all night. First World Cup and he started with a brace. Fans love that.
Best Paraguay: Maurício. Came off the bench and scored in the 72nd minute. Enciso set him up. He gave Paraguay some hope for 15 minutes.
Weakest: Damián Bobadilla. Scored an own goal in the 6th minute. He was subbed off at halftime. Bad night for him.
What It Means?
USA vs Paraguay finished 4-1. USA sit top of Group D. Three points and plus three goal difference. That puts them in a strong spot to advance. Paraguay are bottom after one game. They need points fast now.
The USA plays Australia next. That is June 19 or 20 in Seattle. Paraguay faces Türkiye the same day.
Post-match reaction
Balogun said after: “It is a fantastic day. It is my first World Cup. To start with two goals, I am very happy. We needed the fans to support us and be the extra man.”
The USA got the win. Balogun got two. The group is wide open but the USA looks good.
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