Christian Pulisic helped the United States open the 2026 World Cup with a 4-1 win over Paraguay in Inglewood. The night produced major standout performances from Pulisic and Folarin Balogun, while several USA players—plus coach Sebastian Berhalter—faced scruti
The noise in Inglewood didn’t fade after the first strike.
By the time the United States had scored against Paraguay early—thanks in part to an own goal—USMNT fans were already living in that rare feeling of control. The Americans went on to win 4-1 in their first group match of the 2026 World Cup. turning the opener into a statement that felt bigger than the final score.
Christian Pulisic was at the center of it. His performance was also a confidence test that he passed quickly, even with his time limited early. Pulisic played only 45 minutes for the Stars and Stripes’ biggest star. but it was enough to erase worries about whether he could deliver at full speed in the tournament. He darted between two Paraguay defenders, kept up with the play, and set up the opening goal. After that. he didn’t settle—he continually got the better of defenders on the right side of the field and set up Folarin Balogun for the second of the night.
The scoreboard kept moving, and so did the case for the U.S. offensive rhythm. Folarin Balogun delivered a double in the 4-1 win. providing the kind of finishing that makes attacking options feel dangerous and real. There was a small edge of frustration in what could have been: Balogun put a ball in the back of the net while offside. and the piece suggests it might have been a World Cup hat trick—something that would have amplified the evening even further.
For fans, the match also came with a story that didn’t start tonight. Expectations going in had ranged widely, with some worrying the U.S. would struggle, especially after the March friendly defeats to Belgium and Portugal. Others believed the tournament would force a different version of the team. After this opener, optimism is no longer theoretical. It’s personal—and it carries forward at least until the next match against Australia.
Even the quieter victories stood out. One of the most confident notes came from around Chris Richards. His ankle looked healthy. and while he could have done better on Paraguay’s goal. the write-up said he couldn’t have been any better on the ball. completing every single pass of the 83 he attempted.
Paraguay, for its part, didn’t present the test the U.S. seemed to crave. The visitor’s sluggish readiness became its own category of winners-and-losers on the night—even if Paraguay isn’t being treated as a “loser” in the simple sense. Manager Gustavo Alfaro made changes. and the South Americans came out more aggressively than the typically defensive look associated with their usual style. But the team didn’t look prepared to answer the bell. The right side, in particular, was singled out: right back Juan Cáceres had a nightmare.
In the U.S. camp, the most immediate question landed on Sebastian Berhalter. The coaching move was triggered midstream: Berhalter was rushed into the match at the half after Christian Pulisic was moved out. The assessment paints Berhalter’s game as difficult. with a moment where he slipped on the turf and a stat line that didn’t help his case—eight passes wrong. He also had a chance late in the match to put the ball into a wide-open net from distance and didn’t come close to hitting the target.
Sergino Dest also drew criticism, even while the implication is that his spot remains secure. The wide player will keep his place in the starting XI, but the account describes an uncharacteristically sloppy first half. Dest took a poor touch when he was in the box. and he also had a chance to put a shot on goal. On top of that, he wasn’t able to connect on a cross.
What made the evening complicated wasn’t the overall result—it was the contrast between sharp decision-making and moments that looked out of sync. Pulisic’s quick impact and Balogun’s two goals kept the U.S. moving forward. while the team’s early confidence appeared most fragile in the later knock-in opportunities that Berhalter and Dest didn’t convert.
Still, for the supporters who packed the opener, the emotional takeaway was straightforward. This was a great night for the U.S., and the article frames it as something fans should be able to enjoy all weekend.
There was also an external reminder of how much money is tied to these nights. Fans attending the USA vs. Paraguay match in Los Angeles, California reported what they paid to attend the World Cup opener, ranging from $60 to $3,000.
USA vs Paraguay Christian Pulisic Folarin Balogun USMNT 2026 World Cup Inglewood Sebastian Berhalter Sergino Dest Gustavo Alfaro Juan Cáceres Chris Richards
4-1 is nice but wasn’t this supposed to be harder? Paraguay defense looked slow.
I swear I heard Pulisic only played 45 minutes?? Like how is that even fair if he still changed the game. Also own goal counts but still lol USA pulled it together.
Wait the article says Balogun was offside on one, but then it still feels like he got a hat trick? Idk how offside works half the time, like does it get erased or not. But either way 4-1 sounded like a domination moment.
Sebastian Berhalter being mentioned like that makes me nervous already. They win 4-1 and I still can’t stop thinking about the next match… also Inglewood noise like that can’t be real, sounds like they just wrote that to hype it up. Anyway Pulisic set up goals so good for him, but I’m confused why he was limited early, was he injured or just rested?