USA crush Paraguay 4-1 in World Cup opener as Balogun brace ignites Hollywood crowd

Dominant first half sets the tone

The United States men's national team announced themselves at the 2026 World Cup with a 4-1 demolition of Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium. The co-hosts found the net through an early Damián Bobadilla own goal before Folarin Balogun scored twice to put the game out of reach by half-time. Giovanni Reyna added a late fourth to complete a performance that mixed flair and ruthlessness.

The Americans were relentless from the opening whistle. Christian Pulisic, the talismanic No10, tormented the Paraguay defence, weaving between two markers to force the seventh-minute own goal. Balogun, the Monaco striker, had a goal ruled out for offside in the 28th minute but made no mistake three minutes later, finishing from Pulisic’s cross. Deep in first-half stoppage time, Balogun again danced past two centre-backs and curled a shot into the top corner, making it 3-0. The US held 75 percent possession in the first 45 minutes.

“It's in the family blood. It is the American culture -- it's starting to be.”

Pulisic precaution and a late scare

Pulisic did not return for the second half after taking a knock, withdrawn as a precaution by head coach Mauricio Pochettino. His absence was felt briefly. Paraguay, 16 years removed from their last World Cup appearance, pulled a goal back through Mauricio in the 73rd minute, temporarily unsettling the American back line. But the fightback was short-lived. In the eighth minute of added time, Reyna, the Borussia Mönchengladbach attacker, curled a left-footed shot into the net to seal the 4-1 scoreline and restore full-throated noise inside the stadium.

Hollywood glitz and patriotic fervour

The stands were a spectacle of their own. A capacity crowd of 70,492 filled the venue, many wearing red-white-and-blue face paint, flag capes, and Statue of Liberty costumes. Celebrities dotted the luxury suites: Tom Cruise and David Beckham shared a private box, Paris Hilton watched from another, and Katy Perry performed before kick-off. Jason Sudeikis, the actor behind Ted Lasso, was also in attendance. The evening blended a Hollywood premiere with a patriotic celebration, as families who had travelled from across the country mixed with local fans who grew up playing recreational soccer.

A record night and group outlook

The victory was the largest ever for the United States in a World Cup match. It puts them in a strong position atop Group D, which also includes Australia and Turkey. With three points and a plus-three goal difference, the Americans have given themselves a clear path toward the knockout rounds — a stage they have not reached since their quarter-final run in 2002. The players and staff will now monitor Pulisic’s condition ahead of their next fixture, while the rest of the tournament takes note of a host nation playing with ambition rather than mere obligation.