The USA show, starting the 2026 World Cup – which they are co-hosting with Mexico and Canada – perfectly, starring 24-year-old striker Folarin Balogun, who scored two goals in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the SoFi stadium in Los Angeles, in a 4-1 victory over Paraguay in the opening match of Group 4.

Bobadilla (7′ own goal), Balogun (31′, 45’+5′) set up the scores in the best-ever first half of the tournament, before Mauricio pulled one back (73′) and Reina (90’+8′) sealed the win.
 The USA face Australia on June 19 in Seattle, while Paraguay travel to San Francisco to face Turkey. 

 Referee: Danny Makeli (Netherlands)
 Yellows: Adams (59′)- Caceres (10′), Almiron (53′), Gomes (79′), Arce (88′), Alonso (90’+3′)
 Reds: – 

The compositions:

USA (Maurizio Pochettino): Frisch – Freeman, Richards, Ream, Robinson – Adams, McKennie, Tillman (Reina 82′) – Dest (Wea 72′), Balogun (Pepi 72′), Pulisic (Berhalter 46′)
Paraguay (Gustavo Alfaro): Hill – Caceres (Velasquez 79′), Gomez, Alderete, Alonso – Gomez (Kaku 80′), Bobadilla (Mauricio 46′), Cubas – Almiron (Sosa 79′), Sanabria (Arce 62′), Enciso.