US midfielder Giovanni Reyna celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during their 2026 Fifa World Cup Group D match against Paraguay.
The United States launched their home Fifa World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion on Friday, thrashing Paraguay 4-1 with a perfectly scripted opening performance to delight a star-studded crowd.
Folarin Balogun netted a superb brace while relentless American pressure forced an early Paraguay own goal from Damián Bobadilla, before second-half substitute Gio Reyna added a late fourth to cap a dream start for Mauricio Pochettino's side at a vibrant SoFi Stadium in Group D.
The US entered the tournament amid a swirl of domestic uncertainty following a string of defeats and unconvincing performances in their pre-World Cup friendlies. However, any lingering doubts regarding their ability to progress from the group stage were obliterated in a dazzling first-half display, which saw them roar into a 3-0 lead to all but seal the points in the opening 45 minutes.
"Just a great start from the guys," US star Christian Pulisic said afterwards. "The guys came out with so much energy — just a great performance and a thoroughly deserved win. It's just the start of a long journey, though. We've got a lot more to do. It's a really, really great start and we should be proud, but we've got to keep pushing and be ready for the next match."
