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🇺🇸 USA WORLD CUP 2026
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Group D — Matchday 1 Full Time
🇺🇸 United States Home
4–1
Full Time
🇵🇾 Paraguay Away
Friday, June 12, 2026
Goals
  • 7' 🇺🇸
    ⚽ Damián Bobadilla (OG)
    UNI
  • 31' 🇺🇸
    ⚽ Folarin Balogun
    UNI
  • 45'+5' 🇺🇸
    ⚽ Folarin Balogun
    UNI
  • 73' 🇵🇾
    ⚽ Mauricio
    PAR
  • 90'+8' 🇺🇸
    ⚽ Giovanni Reyna
    UNI
Match Report

Balogun double powers USA to a statement 4-1 opening win over Paraguay

The USMNT could not have asked for a better start to its home World Cup, brushing aside Paraguay 4-1 in front of a roaring SoFi Stadium crowd. An early own goal settled the nerves, Folarin Balogun struck twice before halftime, and Giovanni Reyna capped it deep in stoppage time — three points, a healthy goal difference, and a statement of intent in Group D.

It started almost perfectly. The U.S. pressure told inside seven minutes when Damián Bobadilla turned the ball into his own net, and the lead only grew from there. Balogun, leading the line, doubled it on the half-hour and added a third in first-half stoppage time to all but settle the game before the break.

Paraguay, so organized through qualifying, had no answer to the American press and tempo. Substitute Mauricio pulled one back on 73 minutes to deny the clean sheet, but it never threatened the result. Reyna, also off the bench, added the gloss in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time.

Mauricio Pochettino wanted a fast start and a tone-setter, and he got both. The U.S. move top of Group D and turn their attention to Australia in Seattle on June 19, with a knockout place suddenly looking well within reach.

Pre-Match Preview

The wait is over. The USMNT begin their home World Cup against Paraguay on June 12 at a sold-out SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, fresh off a send-off series that brought a 3-2 win over Senegal and a competitive 1-2 loss to Germany. Settled into their base camp in Irvine, Pochettino's side knows the opener is as much about tone-setting as points — and the coach has been blunt that anything short of winning the whole thing won't count as success.

What's at stake

As the Group D opener, this is the single most important match of the USA's first round. Against a defensively stubborn Paraguay that has quietly found form, three points would put the co-hosts in command of a group that also features Türkiye and Australia. A slip would pile pressure on the later fixtures and the entire home-tournament narrative.

Team News
  • ›USA: Chris Richards (ankle ligaments) is a major doubt and unlikely to start, with Mark McKenzie in line to deputize. The projected XI has Matt Freese in goal, Tim Ream anchoring, Sergiño Dest high, and Folarin Balogun up top.
  • ›Paraguay: Julio Enciso (thigh) is expected to miss out after an MRI ruled out a tear but left him highly doubtful. The more direct Ramón Sosa is in line to replace him.
  • ›Official: Dutch referee Danny Makkelie takes charge.
Key Matchup

Christian Pulisic vs Gustavo Gómez — the USMNT's talisman against Paraguay's veteran captain at center-back.

What to Watch

How quickly the U.S. can break down a deep block. Paraguay will sit, soak pressure, and look to spring Almirón on the counter.

Tactical Preview

A classic clash of styles: the USA's high-energy possession-and-press against a compact Paraguay built to defend deep and strike on the counter. Paraguay conceded just 10 goals in 18 CONMEBOL qualifiers, so the game likely hinges on whether the USMNT can break down a low block without overcommitting and getting caught in transition. With Julio Enciso a doubt, the threat may shift to the raw pace of Ramón Sosa down the USA's left, where Antonee Robinson will have to temper his overlapping instincts early on.

How the USA approaches it

The projected XI has Matt Freese in goal, Tim Ream anchoring a reshaped back line, Sergiño Dest pushing high, and Folarin Balogun leading the line with Pulisic the focal point. With Chris Richards a major doubt, Mark McKenzie is set to deputize at center back. Expect Pochettino to lean on home advantage and a front-foot game, pressing high to pin Paraguay back while staying disciplined against the counter. A fast start to feed off the LA crowd is the plan.

Scouting Paraguay

Paraguay, La Albirroja, return to the World Cup for the first time since 2010, ending a 16-year absence. Their identity under Gustavo Alfaro is built on defensive solidity, organization and pragmatism rather than flair. They arrive as a hard-to-beat side that wins ugly.

FIFA Ranking
#58
CONMEBOL
Head Coach

Gustavo Alfaro, a vastly experienced 63-year-old Argentine (previously with Ecuador and Costa Rica), who restored Paraguay's defensive identity and engineered their qualification.

Style

A conservative 4-2-3-1 / 4-4-2 that prioritizes a compact defensive block, organization and direct counter-attacks. Defense first, attacking intelligence second.

Recent Form

Arriving in good form — winners of three of their last four, including a result against fellow World Cup host Mexico and a confident 4-0 send-off win over Nicaragua. The defensive base that carried them through qualifying looks intact.

How They Qualified

Qualified via CONMEBOL in the final automatic spot on 28 points, level with Brazil, Uruguay and Colombia. After a slow start they surged with home wins over Brazil, Venezuela, Chile and Argentina — but scored just 14 goals in 18 games while conceding only 10.

Their first World Cup since 2010, when they reached the quarterfinals for the only time. Other Group D opponents are the USA, Türkiye and Australia.

Strengths
  • +Elite defensive organization — only 10 goals conceded in 18 qualifiers
  • +Compact low block that frustrates more talented opponents
  • +Dangerous in transition through Almirón and Enciso
  • +Experienced spine that beat Brazil and Argentina in qualifying
Weaknesses
  • –Very limited goal output — just 14 in 18 qualifiers
  • –Struggles to create against organized, deep defenses
  • –Lacks a true game-breaking attacker

Players to Watch

Miguel Almirón Forward · Atlanta United

The creative leader and primary outlet, back at Atlanta United from Newcastle, with relentless pressing and runs from deep.

Julio Enciso Forward · Strasbourg

A creative wildcard known for long-range shooting and direct dribbling — but a major doubt for this match. An MRI ruled out a tear, yet a severe thigh contusion leaves him highly questionable; the more direct Ramón Sosa may replace him.

Antonio Sanabria Striker · Cremonese

A physical center-forward who holds up play and links the midfield into attack, and a penalty option.

Gustavo Gómez Center-back & captain · Palmeiras

The 32-year-old captain with 88+ caps anchors the back line and is central to Paraguay's resilience.

Omar Alderete Defender · Sunderland

A key member of the miserly defense and an aerial threat at set pieces.

Danger Man

Miguel Almirón. As the chief creator and engine of Paraguay's counter-attack, he is the player most likely to punish the USA in transition if they over-commit — and he knows the American game well from his Atlanta United spell.

Head-to-Head

The USA hold a clear historical edge over Paraguay, winning the majority of a small all-time series that dates back to the very first World Cup, and have won each of their two most recent meetings.

All-Time Record

About USA 4W-1D-2L in 7 all-time meetings, unbeaten in the last two.

Last Meeting

Nov 15, 2025 — USA 2-1 Paraguay (friendly, Chester, PA). Gio Reyna and Folarin Balogun scored in a match marred by a late bench-clearing brawl.

Notable

Their only previous World Cup meeting was at the inaugural 1930 World Cup — a 3-0 USA win in which Bert Patenaude recorded what is recognized as the first hat-trick in World Cup history.

Our Prediction

The bookmakers still favor the USA on home soil, even after a patchy run of results, and a 2-1 friendly win over this same Paraguay side in November 2025 helps. But Paraguay arrive in form — winners of three of their last four, including a result against fellow host Mexico — and their defensive resilience makes a blowout unlikely. If the Americans score first and force Paraguay to chase, they should have enough; a tight, low-scoring game or a frustrating draw is well within range.