Soccer fans around the United States witnessed what many are calling the greatest U.S. men’s national team performance in history as the Stars and Stripes obliterated Paraguay 4-1 in their 2026 World Cup opener on Friday.
The three-goal margin is the United States’ largest victory in a men’s World Cup in nearly 100 years. The USMNT — ironically enough — defeated Paraguay 3-0 in the first edition of the world’s tournament back in 1930.
Friday’s performance exceeded all expectations. The opening 45 minutes was the best Mauricio Pochettino’s squad has looked since he took charge in September 2024. The magnitude of the occasion wasn’t lost on the American XI as they drank in every moment and delivered in front of a sold out SoFi Stadium.
*cough* We mean Los Angeles Stadium. FIFA told us we’re not allowed to say SoFi.
USA vs Paraguay highlights
USMNT star Christian Pulisic proved his doubters wrong with an electric first half that saw him terrorizing the Paraguay defense and setting up the first two opening goals.
OWN GOAL. 1-0 USA! 🇺🇸
THE @USMNT SCORES FIRST AND LOS ANGELES IS ABSOLUTELY ELECTRIC! pic.twitter.com/tEbJU8E9PX— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 13, 2026
FLO BALOGUN. FOR AMERICA! 🇺🇸
His first career FIFA World Cup goal doubles the @USMNT advantage over Paraguay pic.twitter.com/b5jXJgNdu7— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 13, 2026
Folarin Balogun finished beautifully for the USA’s second goal and topped it with a superb strike to close out the first half.
FOLARIN BALOGUN BRACE TO MAKE IT 3-0 @USMNT! 🇺🇸
A truly stellar FIFA World Cup debut for Flo. pic.twitter.com/yfjrSEtKcz— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 13, 2026
Three goals in the first half. Mind you, the USMNT only scored three goals during the entire 2022 World Cup run.
The second half saw head coach Pochettino settle the team down and as a precaution take Pulisic out of the game due to calf tightness. The reports are that there’s no injury and that Captain America is fine.
While the USMNT weren’t peppering Paraguay’s net, the Americans kept control of the game to protect their three goal lead. One slip-up in the 73rd minute saw the South American side pull a goal back, but the U.S. were able to contain the Paraguayan spark.
Paraguay chip away at the @USMNT's lead thanks to Mauricio 🇵🇾 pic.twitter.com/WKgovjNcrd
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 13, 2026
Gio Reyna came off the bench to reignite the fire felt across American soccer with a gorgeous trivela finish in the game’s final seconds to put the cherry on top of a dream start to the World Cup.
GIO REYNA WITH CHERRY ON TOP! 🇺🇸@USMNT WINS 4-1! pic.twitter.com/sYnNXYdIWe
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 13, 2026
THAT is how you open up a home World Cup.
The USMNT will have a week to rest and recover before they travel to Seattle to face Australia in their second group stage game.
If the U.S. play like they did on Friday, another win is all but certain.
This team is for real.
