The US Men’s National Team just did something it hasn’t done in nearly a century. By winning their first two matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the USMNT became the first American squad since 1930 to open a World Cup with back-to-back victories.
A group stage for the record books
The USMNT finished atop Group D with six points and a goal difference of +4. Those are both records for the program at a World Cup.
The team scored eight goals across the group stage, setting a new benchmark for US World Cup performances in a single phase.
The headline result was a 4-1 dismantling of Paraguay on June 12, 2026. Folarin Balogun and Gio Reyna were singled out for standout performances in that match, a game that effectively sealed the Americans’ passage to the next round.
