USA thrash Paraguay 4-1 in World Cup opener, delivering historic night for American soccer
The United States men's national team scored a record four goals in a World Cup match for the first time, beating Paraguay 4-1 in front of a roaring home crowd of 70,492 at Los Angeles Stadium.
A historic night for American soccer
The United States men's national team opened the 2026 World Cup on home soil with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium, achieving their largest World Cup win since 1930 and scoring four goals in a single match for the first time in the competition's history. The emphatic result in front of 70,492 fans sent the US to the top of Group D and put the team firmly in control of its path to the knockout stages. The margin matched a 96-year-old landmark set at the inaugural tournament, when the Americans beat Paraguay 3-0. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino said the performance was "amazing for our fans."
How the match unfolded
Paraguay's Damian Bobadilla turned a cross into his own net in the seventh minute, sparking a first-half blitz that saw the US take a 3-0 lead by the break. Forward Folarin Balogun scored two goals, the second coming after Christian Pulisic was substituted at half-time with a minor calf injury. Paraguay pulled one back after the interval but the hosts added a fourth to complete the rout. The US had never before scored four goals in a World Cup fixture.
When you talk about America, that passion, that feeling today, they (the fans) were amazing. And now they realize that soccer here in America is massive, it's big. Be careful, other sports.
A transformed team under Pochettino
Since taking charge, Pochettino has reshaped the US from a gritty, workmanlike side into an attacking unit that combined fluidity and flair against Paraguay. The performance drew comparisons with the iconic 2002 group-stage win over Portugal, but this time the display was more sustained and expressive. Christian Pulisic noted the connection between players, calling it "fun" to see so many teammates capable of individual brilliance. Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro acknowledged the Americans dominated "tactically, technically and physically."
My message to the American people is, if you didn't believe before the game, that performance in the first half -- start believing. This American team can do something big.
Scenes in the stands
Fans arrived hours early, many in elaborate red-white-and-blue costumes, turning the area around the stadium into a carnival. Alex Saldivar, a 23-year-old draped in a US flag, described the experience as "a dream come true." Supporters from all 50 states and from 195 countries purchased tickets for games in Los Angeles, where a significant security operation involving multiple federal agencies ensured a smooth event. Joyful scenes continued long after the final whistle, with chants of "U.S.A.!" echoing from the stands.
What's next
The win gives the US a 97 per cent chance of advancing from the group, according to The Athletic's prediction model. The team faces Australia on Thursday and Turkey in its final group match, with a first- or second-place finish now firmly within reach. Pochettino's squad has captured the imagination of a country eager for a deep tournament run, but the coach remains cautious, already resting Pulisic to preserve him for sterner tests.
