If that’s as good as it ever gets, then fine by me. That was everything that generations of longtime suffering American soccer fans had hoped to one day see from the USMNT at a World Cup.
MORE — USMNT player ratings | What we learned
Mauricio Pochettino’s side raced out to a 3-0 halftime lead after Folarin Balogun scored twice in 20 minutes, Christian Pulisic wreaked havoc on the wing for 45 minutes and Paraguay attempted just two shots before the break. Never before had the USMNT dominated every facet of a game at the World Cup, and they did it right out of the starting gate.
Pulisic came off at halftime as a precaution and Paraguay got a goal back through Mauricio in the 73rd minute, but Gio Reyna put forth his nomination for goal of the tournament deep in stoppage time. A right-footed curler, with the outside of his foot, around everyone, tucked just inside the far post.
The Yanks (3 points) sit atop Group D with a healthy goal difference. Australia (June 19) and Turkiye (June 25) still to come.
USA vs Paraguay final score: 4-1
Goalscorers: Damian Bobadilla (7' - OG), Folarin Balogun (31', 45'+5), Mauricio (73'), Gio Reyna (90'+8)
Possession: 65-35
Shots: 16-9
On target: 6-1
xG: 1.34-0.47
USMNT defenders and midfielders — every single one of them — over-committed and didn’t win the ball, while simultaneously leaving Mauricio all by his lonesome on the back side.
¡DESCUENTA PARAGUAY!
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 13, 2026
Maurício Magalhães Prado marca y acorta distancias en el marcador para los paraguayos.
Estados Unidos aún gana el partido por 3-1, ¿Alcanzan a empatar? pic.twitter.com/FntiIxh6K1
The USMNT is in dreamland, folks. Not even the greatest optimist would have predicted they would be 3-0 heading into halftime of their World Cup opener, but here we are. Balogun is unlike any striker the U.S. team has ever had, and he’s feasting right now. Malik Tillman is starting to make waves down the right, and he gets the assist for a pass I can’t believe he had the gall to attempt. I’m delirious.
Christian Pulisic is having one of the most dominant game he’s ever had in a USMNT shirt, and we’re only a half-hour in. He’s having his way down the left wing, getting in between the center back and full back every time. This time, he gets an assist after Folarin Balogun hammered it into the bottom corner.
Christian Pulisic, to Tyler Adams, to Flo Balogun, to the back of the net. It was a work of art, a thing of beauty, football of the highest order. But it was also offside, by Pulisic well back during the play. No goal, but the confidence they showed as they sliced through Paraguay’s defense is the real story here.
Christian Pulisic made a brilliant move on the left flank, breezing by two defenders with one move before cutting the ball back to Weston McKennie in space. McKennie’s tried to pass it on as well, but midfielder Damian Bobadilla booted it into his own net. A fantastic, front-foot start by the Americans.
¡GOL DE ESTADOS UNIDOS! ¡EL PRIMER AUTOGOL DEL MUNDIAL!
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 13, 2026
Espectacular jugada individual de Pulisic y Bobadilla manda el balón a propia puerta.
El equipo estadounidense ya vence 1-0 a Paraguay. pic.twitter.com/tqVwyQHWqM
It’s been 32 years since the USMNT last kicked a ball in the World Cup on soil. It’s a capacity crowd on SoCal, and it looks 75-25 in favor of the Americans — it hasn’t always been like this.
Gill - Caceres, G. Gomez, Alderete, Alonso - D. Gomez, Cubas, Bobadilla, Almiron - Sanabria, Enciso
Equipo 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐨 ✔️
— Selección Paraguaya (@Albirroja) June 12, 2026
📋 Ellos son los elegidos por el DT Gustavo Alfaro para el debut en la máxima cita.
🆚 🇺🇸
🏆 @FIFAWorldCup 2026 - Grupo D
🏟️ Los Angeles Stadium
🕙 22:00 h
📺 @SomosGEN | @trecepy | @somospopupy | @Unicanal
¡Dale la #Albirroja ⚪🔴!… pic.twitter.com/AuLwohvvUv
Freese - Freeman, Richards, Ream - Dest, Adams, McKennie, Robinson - Tillman, Pulisic, Balogun
Your XI for Match #1 at the @FIFAWorldCup.#USMNT x The @HomeDepot pic.twitter.com/0LHLne0ibK
— U.S. Soccer Men's National Team (@USMNT) June 12, 2026
Winners: 6 times — Uruguay 1930, Italy 1934, England 1966, West Germany 1974, Argentina 1978, France 1998
Runners-up: 2 times — Brazil 1950, Sweden 1958
Semifinals: 3 times — Chile 1962, Italy 1990, South Korea 2002
Quarterfinals: 5 times — France 1938, Switzerland 1954, Mexico 1970 & 1986, Russia 2018
Early knockout round(s): 3 times — USA 1994, Japan 2002, Spain 1982
Out in group stage: 2 times — South Africa 2010, Qatar 2022
Starting lineups TBA at 8 pm ET.
— Matt Freese —
— Alex Freeman — Chris Richards — Tim Ream —
Sergino Dest — Tyler Adams — Malik Tillman — Antonee Robinson
— Timothy Weah — Folarin Balogun — Christian Pulisic —
To win World Cup: +6000
To reach final: +2000
To win Group D: USA (+140), Turkiye (+175), Paraguay (+400), Australia (+800)
To advance from group: USA (-750), Turkiye (-500), Paraguay (-205), Australia (-110)
Top goalscorer: Folarin Balogun (+8000), Christian Pulisic (+8000), Haji Wright (+10000), Ricardo Pepi (+10000), Gio Reyna (+25000), Brenden Aaronson (+50000)
1930: 3rd place
1934: Round of 16
1938: Withdrew
1950: Group stage
1954 to 1986: Did not qualify
1990: Group stage
1994: Round of 16
1998: Group stage
2002: Quarterfinals
2006: Group stage
2010: Round of 16
2014: Round of 16
2018: Did not qualify
2022: Round of 16
2026: ???
