US Soccer Team Beats Paraguay 4-0 in World Cup Opener

US Beats Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles Opener of 2026 World Cup

The United States kicked off their hosting duties at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a convincing 4-1 victory over Paraguay in front of a sold-out crowd of 70,492 at the Los Angeles stadium. The match marked the first game to be played on US soil as part of the tournament, which also features Mexico and Canada as co-hosts.

The US took an early lead in the seventh minute when Damian Bobadilla’s own goal gave them a 1-0 advantage. Weston McKennie’s pass to Christian Pulisic was deflected into his own net by the Paraguayan defender. The US then dominated the first half, with Gio Reyna scoring two goals and Folarin Balogun adding another as they took a 3-0 lead at halftime.

The second half saw Paraguay make some progress, but the US maintained their control of the game. Julio Enciso’s goal in the 90th minute was not enough to prevent the US from securing a comfortable win. The match marked a promising start for the US team, who now sit atop Group D alongside Australia and Turkey.

The sold-out crowd, which included celebrities such as Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Paris Hilton, witnessed an impressive display of football by the US team. Christian Pulisic, who was withdrawn from the game at halftime due to injury, will be a key player for the US in their upcoming matches.

Source: Al Jazeera