The United States Men’s National Team opened the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 4-1 demolition of Paraguay on June 12, in front of 70,492 fans packed into SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. It was the first World Cup match played on US soil since 1994, and the home crowd made sure everyone remembered it.
Folarin Balogun scored twice in the first half to put the game effectively out of reach before halftime.
A sellout crowd and a statement win
The 70,492 attendance figure represented a full sellout at SoFi Stadium, the $5.5B NFL venue that doubles as one of the World Cup’s marquee host sites.
Balogun’s brace set the tone early. The striker converted twice before the break to give the hosts a commanding cushion. Paraguay pulled one back but never seriously threatened a comeback, with the final score settling at 4-1.
