INGLEWOOD, United States — Folarin Balogun produced a standout performance with a first-half brace as co-hosts, the United States began their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion, beating Paraguay 4-1 in their Group D opener at SoFi Stadium.
The hosts seized control early when Paraguay midfielder Damián Bobadilla inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the seventh minute. Balogun then extended the lead with two clinical finishes before halftime, converting chances created by Christian Pulisic and Malik Tillman to put Mauricio Pochettino’s side firmly in command. Giovanni Reyna added a late fourth goal deep into stoppage time after Paraguay had briefly reduced the deficit through Mauricio in the second half. Okay News reports that the victory gives the United States an ideal start in a group-stage campaign they hope will lead to a deep run on home soil.
Balogun’s movement and finishing proved decisive throughout the encounter. The striker registered five shots, three of them on target, and earned Player of the Match honours after scoring twice within a dominant opening 45 minutes. The Americans controlled possession for much of the contest, consistently threatening Paraguay’s defence and creating the majority of the game’s clear-cut opportunities.
Christian Pulisic and Malik Tillman were also influential in attack, each providing an assist as the United States repeatedly found openings in the Paraguayan backline. Veteran defender Tim Ream marshalled the defence and dictated play from deep, while Reyna made an immediate impact from the bench by capping the victory with a stoppage-time goal.
Paraguay improved after the interval and found a consolation through Mauricio in the 73rd minute following a pass from Julio Enciso. However, Gustavo Alfaro’s side struggled to create sustained pressure and managed only one shot on target throughout the match, leaving them with work to do in their remaining group fixtures.
The result places the United States in a strong early position in Group D and provides a confidence boost for Pochettino’s squad, with Balogun emerging as the star of the opening night after delivering one of the tournament’s most impressive individual performances so far.
