USMNT record-breaking – The United States opened Group D play with a 4-1 win over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, igniting massive fan turnout and soaring U.S. viewership. Folarin Balogun scored twice, and Giovanni Reyna added a late goal in extra time, while Christian Pulisic’s absence fr
The noise came early at SoFi Stadium, and by the time the United States had built a lead, the cheers felt like more than celebration—they sounded like momentum.
The host nation kicked off its World Cup Group D schedule with a 4-1 win over Paraguay. turning the match into a statement on the field and a headline at home. Paraguay’s campaign began with an own goal, giving the USMNT an early advantage. Folarin Balogun then scored twice to push the lead further. before Giovanni Reyna found the net during the final moments of extra time in the second half.
More than 700. 000 fans packed the stadium for the opening match. and the home crowd’s chants and support carried through the decisive stretches of play. Even for viewers who weren’t in Los Angeles. the game landed with force: nearly 16 million people watched the USMNT’s opening match on television. with the broadcast carried on Fox. Live streaming with English commentary was available on the FOX One and Tubi apps.
That audience wasn’t just big—it was historic. The match became the most-watched World Cup game on English-language television. and it happened in the team’s very first match of the tournament. Between 10:45 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern Time, the game posted a peak audience of 18.86 million viewers. It was also the most-streamed English-language USMNT match, with approximately 1.13 million streaming it on Tubi.
The record came with a stark comparison to the past. The USMNT’s 2022 World Cup Group Stage match against Wales drew 7.763 million viewers. meaning the opening win over Paraguay nearly doubled the television audience. The kind of jump that stat represents doesn’t just reflect interest—it suggests how quickly this team’s first steps have captured the national spotlight.
But the evening still carried its share of concern. Star forward Christian Pulisic did not return to the pitch in the second half, immediately fueling curiosity over whether he was hurt or simply being rested.
On the field, the result also shifted the math for Group D right away. The United States currently has three points after the 4-1 win and is leading the group. Those goals and points may matter later if teams finish level, especially as the tournament moves toward potential tiebreakers. Australia and Turkey play the next Group D match at midnight on Sunday, June 14.
The USMNT will continue its tournament journey next against Australia on Friday, June 19, in Seattle, Washington, at Lumen Field, home of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.
For now. though. the opener has already accomplished something rare: it delivered a dominant win. filled the stadium with unmistakable home support. and brought an English-language World Cup audience the sport has rarely seen—while leaving one immediate question hanging from the sideline after Pulisic’s absence in the second half.
USMNT Paraguay World Cup SoFi Stadium Folarin Balogun Giovanni Reyna Christian Pulisic Group D viewership records Fox Tubi FOX One Lumen Field