USMNT Rout Paraguay 4-1 in Historic World Cup Opener With Four-Goal Explosion

Folarin Balogun scored a first-half brace and the United States recorded their first four-goal World Cup match, as Gio Reyna added a stunning stoppage-time strike in Los Angeles

The United States Men’s National Team delivered a record-breaking first-half performance on Saturday, thrashing Paraguay 4-1 at the Los Angeles Stadium in their historic World Cup opener.

The offensive outburst marked the first time the USMNT has scored three or more goals in a World Cup game since opening the 2002 tournament with a 3-2 victory over Portugal. It was also the first time an American squad has ever scored four goals in a World Cup match.

The scoring began early. In the seventh minute, an offensive surge forced Paraguayan midfielder Damián Bobadilla to turn the ball into his own net, giving the United States a lead they would never relinquish.

Striker Folarin Balogun took over from there. In the 31st minute, he received a crisp cutback pass from captain Christian Pulisic and finished clinically. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Balogun added his second with a beautiful curler into the top corner, sending the American supporters into delirium.

Paraguay answered back late in the second half. In the 73rd minute, substitute Maurício capitalised on a loose clearance to pull one back, briefly threatening a comeback. But the United States sealed the statement win deep in stoppage time. In the 90th minute, super-sub Gio Reyna buried an exquisite trivela strike with the last kick of the game, making it 4-1.

The United States dominated possession with 63 percent and registered 17 shots, six on target, while limiting Paraguay to just eight attempts. American passing accuracy stood at 91 percent compared to Paraguay’s 74 percent.

Captain Christian Pulisic was surprisingly substituted at halftime. Manager Mauricio Pochettino confirmed post-game that Pulisic took a minor kick to the calf and was removed purely as a precaution. The injury is not believed to be serious.

According to a report by Accra Street Journal, the dominant victory slots the United States safely at the top of Group D. The team will next head north to face Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle on Friday, June 19, looking to secure early qualification for the knockout stage.

Source: Accra Street Journal 

Last Updated on June 13, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.

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