USMNT beats – The United States men’s national team opened its 2026 World Cup campaign with a 4-1 rout of Paraguay, taking control early with an own goal in the 7th minute and two Folarin Balogun finishes before halftime.
The United States didn’t wait around—it hit the ground running and kept pressing until Paraguay ran out of answers.
In the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. the USMNT raced to a 4-1 win over Paraguay. scoring all three goals before the whistle blew for halftime. The night swung immediately in the seventh minute when an own goal got the Americans started after a clever passage of play left a Paraguay defender’s touch deflecting the ball into the back of the net.
Folarin Balogun then turned the match into a statement. He scored two goals to put the United States up 3-0—one at 45+4 minutes and another earlier to complete a decisive first-half lead. His second finish was an absolutely stunning strike into the top corner.
Paraguay managed to find one breakthrough later, pulling one back in the 73rd minute through Mauricio, making it 3-1. But the USMNT refused to let the momentum slip.
Substitute Gio Reyna delivered the final punch in stoppage time, scoring with the outside of his boot to restore the Americans’ three-goal advantage and complete the 4-1 scoreline.
With the win, the United States took control of Group D. Turkey and Australia face off in the other pairing of the group on Saturday.
The goals came in a steady rhythm:
7th minute: Own goal – USA 1, Paraguay 0
31st minute: Folarin Balogun goal – USA 2, Paraguay 0
45+4 minutes: Folarin Balogun goal – USA 3, Paraguay 0
73rd minute: Mauricio goal – USA 3, Paraguay 1
93rd minute: Gio Reyna goal – USA 4, Paraguay 1
The tournament doesn’t slow down for the Americans. The USMNT next plays Australia in Seattle on Friday, June 19.
June 19 – USMNT vs. Australia
Time: 3 p.m. ET
Location: Lumen Field (Seattle)
TV: FOX, Telemundo
Streaming: FOX One, Fubo, Peacock
Then the group stage ends with a match against Turkey on June 25 back in Southern California.
June 25 – USMNT vs. Turkey
Time: 10 p.m. ET
Location: SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California)
TV: FOX, Telemundo
Streaming: FOX One, Fubo, Peacock
Beyond the group games. the World Cup schedule 2026 continues with the Round of 32 from June 28-July 3. the Round of 16 from July 4-7. quarterfinals from July 9-11. semifinals on July 14-15. the third-place game on July 18 in Miami Gardens. Florida. and the final on July 19 in East Rutherford. New Jersey.
USMNT Paraguay 2026 World Cup Folarin Balogun Gio Reyna Mauricio Group D Lumen Field SoFi Stadium
4-1 is cool but why does it say 3-0 before halftime like that’s some guarantee
Balogun scoring twice is wild, but I swear Paraguay didn’t even look that good? Like was it just one of those nights. Also the own goal in the 7th minute felt like it decided everything.
So they won 4-1 but I’m confused… did Gio Reyna score in stoppage time or was that just like a highlight clip? The article says outside of his boot and then the score jumps to 4-1 so yeah I guess it happened.
Not gonna lie I only read the headline and saw ‘bursts past Paraguay’ and thought it meant like a bunch of fans ran on the field or something. But hey USA looked fast. Now Turkey and Australia are playing too? That’s a lot of soccer in like one week, I can’t keep up.