United States 4-1 Paraguay: Balogun leads World Cup win

The United States opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday night at SoFi Stadium, with Folarin Balogun’s goals in the 31st minute and 45’+5′ putting the hosts firmly in control after an early own goal from Damián Bobadilla in the 7th minute.

In Inglewood, the U.S. were sharp from the outset and took the lead in unusual fashion when Bobadilla turned the ball into his own net in the 7th minute under pressure inside the area. That early breakthrough settled any nerves around the hosts, who were beginning their Group D schedule on home soil and doing so with Chris Richards back in the lineup after the pre-match attention on his fitness.

From there, the United States controlled the rhythm of the match. Their circulation in midfield was cleaner, their press forced Paraguay into hurried decisions, and the home side consistently found space in advanced areas. That territorial dominance paid off in the 31st minute when Balogun finished to make it 2-0, rewarding a spell in which the U.S. had pinned Paraguay back for long stretches.

The biggest blow arrived deep into first-half stoppage time. With Paraguay already struggling to slow the American transitions, Balogun struck again in the 45’+5′ to send the U.S. into the interval 3-0 ahead. At that stage, the match had a clear shape: the United States had more of the ball, more of the chances, and far more control over where the contest was being played.

Paraguay did improve after the break and found a moment of encouragement in the 73rd minute through Maurício, whose goal briefly gave the visitors hope at 3-1. Yet even that setback never truly shifted the balance of the fixture. The U.S. remained the more composed side, continued to manage possession well, and limited Paraguay to very little in front of goal despite a more competitive second half.

Giovanni Reyna then applied the finishing touch in the 90’+8′ as the United States capped the night with a fourth goal. It was a fitting end to a performance that blended efficiency with control, and it restored the three-goal margin the overall display deserved.

Key performers

Balogun was the headline act, with his goals in the 31st minute and 45’+5′ giving the U.S. a clinical edge in the final third. Reyna made his late contribution count with the goal in 90’+8′, while the American structure across midfield ensured Paraguay rarely built sustained pressure. Richards’ return also mattered, not only because of the pre-match spotlight on his availability, but because the U.S. back line looked calm for most of the evening.

For Paraguay, Maurício’s 73rd-minute finish was the clear bright spot, but the visitors never found enough possession or attacking consistency to seriously unsettle the hosts. Their disciplinary record also reflected a difficult night, with yellow cards for Juan Jose Cáceres in the 10th minute, Miguel Almirón in the 53rd minute, Diego Gómez in the 79th minute, Alex Arce in the 88th minute, and Júnior Alonso in the 90’+3′.

NerdSports Stat: The United States turned 65.1% possession and 6 shots on target into 4 goals, while Paraguay managed just 1 shot on target all match — and it was their only goal.

Tactically, this was the kind of opener managers want: an early goal, control of possession, and a center-forward decisive in both boxes that matter most. The United States finished with 16 total shots to Paraguay’s 9, held a 65.1% share of possession, and limited the visitors to one corner. Even when Paraguay improved after halftime, the home side never lost command of the fixture.

The result gives the United States an ideal start in Group D, with three points and a healthy goal difference already in hand. In a short tournament, that combination can shape the entire table early. Paraguay, meanwhile, will need a response in their next fixture to keep their knockout-round hopes on track after a difficult opening night.

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