The United States defeated Paraguay 4-1 in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Monaco forward Folarin Balogun scored a first-half brace. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

Group D, Matchday 1, June 13, Los Angeles, SoFi Stadium.

⚽ USA – PARAGUAY 4:1 (3:0). Goals: Bobadilla 7 own goal (1:0), Balogun 31 (2:0), Balogun 45+5 (3:0), Mauricio 73 (3:1), Reyna 90+8 (4:1).

For the US team, like Mexico and Canada, this was their first match at the 2026 World Cup. As co-hosts, they did not participate in qualifying.

The score remained 0-0 for just six minutes at the packed SoFi Stadium. In the 7th minute, Paraguayan midfielder Damián Bobadilla of São Paulo accidentally turned in a cross from Juventus' Weston McKennie for the first own goal of the 2026 World Cup. The own goal was preceded by a brilliant solo run by another American playing in Italy, AC Milan's Christian Pulisic.

The same players were involved in the second US goal. A three-man move involving Pulisic, McKennie, and Balogun ended with Balogun scoring in the 28th minute. However, Dutch referee Danny Makkelie initially disallowed the goal. But the Monaco striker scored a legitimate goal just three minutes later, again assisted by Pulisic, who recorded his second assist.

In the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, Balogun scored a solo goal, celebrating his missed hat-trick. He dribbled past Omar Alderete and Paraguayan captain Gustavo Gómez before slotting the ball into the top corner past Orlando Gill.

After the break, Paraguay improved. In the 73rd minute, San Lorenzo goalkeeper Gill started an attack that was finished by Palmeiras' Brazilian-born Mauricio. The São Paulo native scored his first goal for Paraguay in his fourth appearance. His paternal grandmother, who gave him Paraguayan roots, would surely have been proud.

However, this was the only success for La Albirroja (the unofficial name of the Paraguayan national team). The referee added seven minutes of stoppage time, and in the eighth minute, US midfielder Giovanni Reyna of Borussia Mönchengladbach, who came on as a late substitute, made it 4-1.

In the other Group D match, Australia will face Turkey tomorrow.

Earlier today, Canada drew 1-1 with Bosnia.

The 23rd FIFA World Cup is being held for the first time in three countries (USA, Canada, Mexico) with 48 teams divided into twelve groups of four.

Sixteen teams will be eliminated in the group stage: the last-placed teams in each group and the four worst third-placed teams. After the group stage, a single knockout bracket will be formed, including the round of 32, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final, which will take place on the night of July 19-20 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.