U.S. opens World Cup at home with 4-1 rout of Paraguay

The U.S. men’s national team opened its first home World Cup in 32 years with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday night at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Folarin Balogun scored twice in the first half, including in injury time, to lead the Americans to their largest World Cup win since the tournament’s inception in 1930. Christian Pulisic assisted on two goals and played a pivotal role in the team’s aggressive first-half attack, which put the U.S. ahead 3-0 before halftime.

Balogun, who debuted in the World Cup with a multi-goal performance, said he believed in the team’s potential. The London-born, Monaco-based striker chose to represent the U.S. three years ago, citing a desire to seize the opportunity at the international level.

Gio Reyna scored in the second half, adding to the U.S. lead, while Paraguay’s Maurício scored in the second half but couldn’t narrow the deficit. The match drew a star-studded crowd of more than 70,000, including Tom Cruise and Leonardo DiCaprio.

U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino praised his team’s performance, noting the importance of playing creatively in front of a passionate home crowd. Pulisic was substituted at halftime due to a minor injury but said he was optimistic about his recovery.

Paraguay’s coach Gustavo Alfaro acknowledged the U.S. team’s dominance, highlighting their tactical, technical, and physical superiority. The victory marks a significant milestone for the U.S. team, which had struggled to score in recent tournaments.

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