4 Takeaways From USA's Historic World Cup Win Over Paraguay
LOS ANGELES STADIUM Four years ago, at the last FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the U.S. mens national team scored just three goals in four games. It took the team just 45 minutes of the 2026 event to equal that output. And then another 45 minutes to make history. The tournament co-hosts kicked off their World Cup campaign on Friday with aplomb, running out to a three-goal lead in the first half over Paraguay on the strength of two goals from forward Folarin Balogun. The U.S. had not scored three times in the opening stanza of any World Cup since its 2002 opener against Portugal, which began a memorable run to that year's quarterfinals still the best performance at the planets biggest sporting event since the inaugural tournament in 1930. Do you believe in omens? It wasnt a perfect start to the World Cup the Paraguayans pulled one back in the second half before Gio Reyna scored a golazo with the outside of his right foot deep into second half stoppage time but it was close. And with that last score, it became the first time ever the U.S. scored four goals in a men's World Cup match. Here are my takeaways following the USAs dominant 4-1 triumph: 1. USA Makes Its Own Luck In An Empathic Win In baseball, they say the first at-bat of a new season sets the tone for everything that happens after. In the first game of a World Cup, the first goal of the tournament is even more important. The USA got there fewer than seven minutes into Fridays match, following a ferociously intense start. It was a little bit fortunate, with Paraguayan midfielder Damin Bobadilla inadvertentlyturning Weston McKennies attempted feed to forward Folarin Balogun past keeper Orlando Gill for an own goal. But you make your luck at this level, and the Americans certainly did, with defender Alex Freeman starting the play almost 100 yards from the visiting net with a long pass to McKennie, who found Christian Pulisic out wide before getting a return pass from the Stars and Stripes top attacker. It was the third-fastest lead the U.S. has ever taken at a World Cup. For a team looking to make a deep run on home soil this summer, omens dont come much better than that. "The first game is always the most difficult, to get the nerves out of the way," Balogun said. "We were able to do that really quickly." 2. Folarin Balogun Lives Up To The Billing During a lengthy interview last September, the USAs top striker told me that he often daydreamed about lining up for the national anthem in this stadium before the countrys first game at the 2026 World Cup. He surely thought about scoring in it, too. The New York-born, London-reared Balogun, who chose to play for the USA over England three years ago, thought hed found the net in the 28th minute, only for VAR to cancel it out for offside. Three minutes later, Balogun collected a Pulisic pass and beat Gill again. There was no question that this one would count. The 24-year-old wasnt done, putting Mauricio Pochettinos team up by three on the stroke of halftime with his second of the match. It marked the first time in 96 years that any American had a multi-goal performance in a single World Cup match, when Bert Patenaude had a hat trick, also against Paraguay in 1930. It was a strike worthy of history. "It was a dreamy night," Balogun said afterward. "I visualized my debut in the World Cup, scoring, but yeah, the reality did surpass that, scoring two goals, and the second goal was a fantastic goal as well." "The kid's insane, Pulisic said of Balogun. "He's lethal right now in front of goal. We're really lucky to have him." 3. Concern For Christian Pulisic? While Balogun was the obvious Man of the Match, Pulisic was almost as important; Pochettinos No. 10 was at the heart of almost every foray into the Paraguayan side of the field during that pulsating start. But when the second period began, Pulisic was on the bench. There was no immediate word on why. Is he injured? Was it precautionary? Or, with such a lopsided advantage, did Pochettino simply decide to rest arguably his most irreparable offensive weapon ahead of next weeks second Group D encounter, against Australia in Seattle? "We didn't want to take any risks," Pochettino said after the 4-1 win. Television cameras seemed to show Pulisic indicating to his family members that he was fine. But for a player who has frequently battled injury and whos slick dribbling ability and status always invites robust tackles its something to keep an eye on as the first round progresses. "I just got a bit of a kick in the first half, so I'm really hoping that it's nothing," Pulisic explained. "Taking a little bit of precaution today, but I'm hoping I'll be fine the next few days." 4. The Home Team Cant Get Ahead Of Itself Sure, the American players earned the right to celebrate following such a dominant and commanding performance in which they enjoyed almost 70 percent of possession against an opponent that was chasing almost the entire match. U.S. supporters definitely are; how many new fans did this team make over those incredible first 45? Still, they conceded another preventable goal before Reyna added the fourth. Make no mistake: Pochettino will be telling his charges to stay humble and focused, even if history suggests that the squad now already has a foot in the second round. Hes right. There are still two group games left; finishing first will be hugely beneficial if and when they reach the knockout stage. The home team has a ton of momentum, but the hardest work of all remains ahead of it. "There's still a lot more than we want to do," said Pulisic. "Well enjoy this one tonight, spend some time with our families, then we're going to get right back to work. "We can take a deep breath," he added. "There's still so much more we want to accomplish in this tournament." 4 . Next Up Are The Socceroos In Seattle As crucial as taking all three points from their first World Cup match was, beating Australia on June 19 could clinch Group D and make the group finale, back here against Trkiye on June 25, moot depending on other results. (Australia and Trkiye meet on Saturday.) With this one done, that match now becomes the USAs singular focus when Pochettinos squad returns to training at its base in Irvine, California, on Monday.
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