INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The United States men's national team delivered a commanding performance in its 2026 FIFA World Cup opener Friday night, defeating Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium in a display that sent a strong message as co-hosts of the tournament.

Folarin Balogun scored twice in his World Cup debut, Christian Pulisic provided creative spark with key assists before halftime, and Giovanni Reyna added a stunning late goal to cap the victory. The result marked the most goals scored by the U.S. in a single World Cup match since 1930 and gave the Americans an ideal start in Group D.

The match, played before a raucous home crowd in the Los Angeles area, showcased the attacking fluency that coach Mauricio Pochettino has been building. The U.S. controlled possession and created numerous chances, outplaying a Paraguay side that had been solid in qualifying but struggled to contain the hosts' pace and movement.

The Americans took the lead in just the seventh minute. Pulisic split two defenders with a precise pass to Weston McKennie in the box. McKennie's cutback was turned into his own net by Paraguayan midfielder Damián Bobadilla under pressure from Balogun, giving the U.S. an early 1-0 advantage.

Pulisic, playing with the confidence of a veteran leader, continued........

© International Business Times