Folarin Balogun announced himself on football’s biggest stage with a brilliant brace as the United States kicked off their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with an emphatic 4–1 victory over Paraguay at a packed SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Backed by a passionate home crowd of more than 70,000 fans, the co-hosts delivered a performance full of energy, confidence and attacking flair to silence doubts that had followed them into the tournament after a mixed run of pre-World Cup results.
The breakthrough came early when Paraguay’s Damián Bobadilla turned the ball into his own net, handing the Americans a seventh-minute lead. Balogun then took centre stage, scoring twice to put Mauricio Pochettino’s side firmly in control before halftime. Substitute Gio Reyna later added a fourth goal to complete a memorable opening-night victory.
US captain Christian Pulisic hailed the team’s intensity and determination after the match, describing the result as the perfect start to what they hope will be a long World Cup journey.
The electric atmosphere was further boosted by performances from global music stars, including Katy Perry, while Hollywood celebrities joined thousands of supporters to witness the tournament opener.
Paraguay pulled one back in the 73rd minute through Mauricio, but the goal proved little more than a consolation as the hosts comfortably saw out the match.
The convincing win sends a strong message from the United States as they look ahead to crucial Group D clashes against Australia and Turkey, with confidence soaring after an unforgettable start to their World Cup campaign.
