Hollywood ending: US storms past Paraguay as World Cup returns to LA
The U.S. men’s national soccer team secured a 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their World Cup opener at SoFi Stadium, marking their largest win in tournament history with standout performances from Folarin Balogun, Christian Pulisic, and Gio Reyna. The match showcased a transformed team under coach Mauricio Pochettino, dominating tactically and energizing a passionate Los Angeles crowd of 70,492 in their first home World Cup in 32 years.
The U.S. men’s national soccer team made history in their World Cup opener on Friday night, defeating Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The victory marked their largest win in World Cup history, with Folarin Balogun scoring twice in the first half and Gio Reyna adding a late goal in injury time to complete a four-goal performance, the first for the U.S. since 1930. Christian Pulisic provided an assist and led the team’s aggressive playmaking, while coach Mauricio Pochettino praised the team’s transformation under his creative system. The match began with Paraguay taking an early own-goal, but the U.S. quickly took control, with Balogun scoring in the 31st minute and again in first-half stoppage time. The Americans built a 3-0 lead before halftime, where Pulisic was substituted for precautionary reasons due to a minor calf injury sustained in training. Paraguay managed a consolation goal in the second half, but the U.S. maintained dominance, with Pochettino calling it a 'great match' that would win over new fans for soccer in America. The U.S. had struggled in past World Cups, managing only three goals across four matches in Qatar 2022, but this performance marked a breakthrough. Balogun, a 24-year-old Monaco striker born in New York and raised in London, delivered a standout debut, becoming the first U.S. player since 1930 to score multiple goals in a World Cup game. His decision to represent the U.S. instead of England has already proven pivotal, addressing a long-standing lack of top-tier strikers on the national team. Paraguay, making their first World Cup appearance in 16 years, fell behind early and struggled to recover despite tactical adjustments. Coach Gustavo Alfaro acknowledged the U.S.’s dominance, stating they had 'answers to everything.' The match drew 70,492 fans to SoFi Stadium, reflecting the excitement of hosting the tournament for the first time since 1994. Pulisic downplayed his injury, saying he was 'staying positive,' while Pochettino emphasized the team’s growth under his leadership. The victory sets a strong tone for the U.S. as they prepare for their next group-stage match, having silenced past doubts with a commanding performance.
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