USMNT breaks through with emphatic 4-1 win over Paraguay in World Cup opener

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — U.S. soccer had waited 32 years for this moment, a men's World Cup back on home soil with a delicious opportunity to not only show progress on the field but to continue growing a sport that has yearned for a breakthrough chapter. It came on Friday in a manner both ferocious and elegant, in a stunning first half against an opponent that doesn't concede many goals. The Americans were daring and dazzling, and by the time the halftime whistle sounded, they had composed a three-goal lead on the way to a 4-1 victory over Paraguay before 70,492 at SoFi Stadium. The emphatic performance, spurred by Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Weston McKennie, put Mauricio Pochettino's giddy gang in prime position in Group D ahead of next Friday's clash with Australia in Seattle. "A real dream, you know, it's a dream," said Balogun, who became the first U.S. player to score multiple times in the World Cup since 1930. "It's a dreamy night." It was a night for Pulisic, the face of the team and its true superstar, to meet soaring expectations before leaving at halftime with a sore calf. (He will be reevaluated next week.) It was a night for the Americans to impose themselves from the start and, aside from a few uneasy moments, control the match with a vise grip. The three-goal win was their largest in a World Cup since their first match at the inaugural 1930 event. Gio Reyna, who was embroiled in controversy at the 2022 tournament, capped the soaring night with a stunning goal deep in stoppage time. "The first half was brilliant," left wing Antonee Robinson said. "I don't think you can get a much better feeling than going into halftime three-nil up. It was a reward for how we played. It felt like everyone was on the same page, and we were non-stop threatening their goal." Pulisic called it "just an incredible start." McKennie echoed Pulisic, but also said, "This is something we don't want to over-celebrate, because we want this to be the normal for us and the normal expectation that we have for ourselves." The U.S. went ahead in the seventh minute on an own goal and stretched the lead on Balogun's goals in the 31st minute and first-half stoppage time. United States of America forward Folarin Balogun (20), center, celebrates with teammates after his second goal during the first half of a World Cup group stage match between United States and Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on Friday, June 12, 2026 in Inglewood, CA. Robert Gauthier via Getty Images [ World Cup hub | Viewer's guide | Power rankings | Predictions | Players to watch ] With a disallowed goal and a squandered chance, the U.S. margin could have been larger. The U.S. hadn't enjoyed a World Cup half like that since the 2002 World Cup, when they scored three in the opener against heavily favored Portugal. On that day, however, they conceded one before intermission and desperately hung on for a 3-2 win — a big step en route to its only quarterfinal appearance in the modern era. "It was a great match," said Pochettino, a former Argentine World Cup player who made his World Cup coaching debut. "It was amazing for our fans to see, to watch this type of game. I am so proud because we are winning a lot of fans and adding fans to the sport here in America." In the moments before kickoff, the Americans knew they were about to experience an environment like no other. "Whenever we walked out and heard the national anthem, and seeing the crowd and people singing along, that is a moment I got goose bumps, and was something that just felt special," McKennie said. It was "the accumulation of all the work that your team puts in and all the paths that the guys took to be here in this moment together. I think that was the turning point for us." Within minutes, they owned the night. Lively and confident from the start, the U.S. seized the lead in the seventh minute. It was an own goal by Damián Bobadilla but a richly deserved prize for the U.S. after a wonderful transition put Paraguay under duress. Tim Ream disrupted a pass just outside the U.S. penalty area. Chris Richards took possession and connected with Alex Freeman, whose perfectly weighted pass met McKennie in stride crossing midfield. After sidestepping a challenge, McKennie pushed the ball wide to Pulisic. Here was a golden moment for Pulisic to express himself and make an early mark on the match and tournament. Diego Gomez and Juan Jose Caceres stood in the way. Pulisic split them. Two others came his way, creating a pocket for McKennie. Pulisic supplied him. McKennie tried squaring the ball to Balogun at the 6-yard box, and with Paraguay stretched, Bobadilla's reflexive intervention pushed the ball into the net. The Americans continued attacking in waves. By himself on the right side of the box, Dest lost his chance with a heavy first touch that took the ball toward the end line. Balogun completed the Americans' sharp work, but Pulisic was offside on the build-up and Balogun was a step beyond before receiving the last pass. There were no such issues in the 31st minute. Robinson delivered a long ball — long and with proper weight — to Pulisic surging on the left. Bearing down on the beleaguered Paraguayans, Pulisic picked out Balogun in the heart of the box for a one-touch, 12-yard finish to the far corner. No one on a World Cup field could possibly be bored, but goalkeeper Matt Freese was as close as anyone could get. Paraguay was no threat, not necessarily because of its incompetence but because the U.S. dominated possession. When Paraguay did see promise, the U.S. shut it down — even from the knees. Ream slipped while backtracking but still was able to head the ball to Richards for a clearance. The half was winding down but the U.S. wasn't done. On what turned out to be the final sequence, Tillman threaded a brilliant ball from the halfway line to Balogun one on one with Omar Alderete. Balogun dodged Alderete's tackle in the box, pulled the ball back from Gustavo Gomez and lifted an unstoppable shot into the top left corner. Returning to the World Cup for the first time since a 2010 quarterfinal appearance, Paraguay had conceded just 10 goals in its 18 qualifiers. When the teams returned to the field, however, Pulisic wasn't on it — replaced by Sebastian Berhalter. U.S. concentration lapsed early in the second half, but before long, it was back on its front foot. Cracks showed again after Pochettino's first set of substitutions. Paraguay unlocked the defense, and Julio Enciso set up Mauricio for a clean finish to the far corner. It was a worrisome moment for the U.S., which has had defensive problems this year. Malik Tillman should've restored the three-goal margin but squandered a clear bid from the center of the box. Later, Reyna scored an exquisite goal with the outside of his foot from the top of the box. An unforgettable night kept getting better. "Going forward, we'll try and put in another similar performance against Australia and Turkey, and go from there," Robinson said. "We may as well dream high."