Co-hosts US crush Paraguay in dominant World Cup opener
· Yahoo Sports
Co-hosts United States started their World Cup campaign with a dominant 4-1 win over Paraguay on Friday.
The US delivered one of their strongest performances in team history, scoring four goals at a World Cup for the first time.
Visit betsport.cv for more information.
"So, so proud. Players and staff deserved big credit for this performance," coach Mauricio Pochettino said.
"The first 45 minutes were amazing, difficult to find a team to play like this. So happy and so proud."
The first score was gifted by Paraguay as Damián Bobadilla fired in his own goal in the seventh minute.
Folarin Balogun thought he had added a second in the 28th, but his effort was ruled out for offside.
It counted, however, three minutes later as Balogun found the net after collecting a pass from Christian Pulisic. The Monaco forward then completed his brace shortly before the break.
Pulisic was subbed off ahead of the second half as the US slowed things down and focused on managing their advantage.
Paraguay pulled one back through Mauricio in the 73rd minute, but there wasn't much more they could do, and Giovanni Reyna crowned the US' sparkling performance with a fourth goal in the final play of the match.
The US top Group D standings ahead of the game between Australia and Turkey on Saturday.
Next up, the US face the Australians on June 19, while Paraguay play against Turkey.
'We managed the pressure'
Pochettino stressed that his team needs to "be intelligent and to keep in that direction" but added there's still reasons to celebrate.
"It is only one game," he said. "But we are so happy because the first game is always so difficult, hosting the World Cup, the expectation, but we managed the expectation and pressure."
Some of the pressure was lifted from when Bobadilla scored an own goal and gave the hosts an early lead.
Pulisic split two defenders and sent the ball to Weston McKennie, whose pass was redirected into the net by Bobadilla in the seventh minute.
Balogun added a deserved second goal in the 31st, just a few minutes after he had an effort ruled out.
A through ball found Pulisic behind the Paraguayan defence. He cut it back to Balogun, who fired a powerful shot into the net.
His brace came in the added time of the first half, making his way past a helpless defender before ripping the ball into the upper left corner.
Pulisic was subbed off ahead of the second half as the US slowed things down and focused on managing their advantage.
That allowed Paraguay a bit of space to pull one back as Jose Enciso slipped in Mauricio and the substitute drilled the ball into the far corner in the 73rd.
But the hosts still had full control of the match and Reyna scored his first World Cup goal deep into stoppage time to set off a wild celebrations in Los Angeles.
"Amazing. That is what we were waiting for. When you talk about America, that passion, that feeling. Now they realize that soccer in America is massive, it's big," Pochettino said of the support from the fans.
The coach explained that Pulisic was subbed off because he was kicked in his calf and "felt tight" at the end of the first half.
"We didn't want to take any risks. It was difficult for him to walk but [I] hope that it is not a big issue, and he can be ready for the next one."
Paraguay' Mauricio (L) celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D soccer match between USA and Paraguay at SoFi Stadium. Ringo Chiu/ZUMA Press Wire/dpaUS' Christian Pulisic (R) and Weston Mckennie celebrate their side's first goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D soccer match between USA and Paraguay at SoFi Stadium. Charles Baus/CSM via ZUMA Press Wire/dpaUnited States' Folarin Balogun (R) scores his side's third goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D soccer match between USA and Paraguay at SoFi Stadium. Charles Baus/CSM via ZUMA Press Wire/dpaUnited States' Folarin Balogun (L) celebrates scoring his side's second goal with teammate Alex Freeman during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D soccer match between USA and Paraguay at SoFi Stadium. Ringo Chiu/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa