The USA made a dream start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil, sweeping aside Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles to record their biggest-ever win at the
The USA made a dream start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil, sweeping aside Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles to record their biggest-ever win at the tournament.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men were relentless from the outset, with Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie combining to force an own goal from Damián Bobadilla inside eight minutes.
Folarin Balogun then doubled the advantage on 31 minutes, finishing off Pulisic’s cut-back, before striking again just before half-time with a curling effort into the top corner.
It was the first time the USMNT had led by three goals at the break in a World Cup match.
Paraguay, returning to the finals after 16 years, struggled to cope with the hosts’ intensity.
Julio Enciso’s deflected shot was their only notable first-half chance, while goalkeeper Orlando Gill was kept busy denying Chris Richards and Malik Tillman.
After the restart, Paraguay showed more fight, with Miguel Almirón and Diego Gómez seeing efforts blocked by teammates.
Their persistence was rewarded in the 73rd minute when substitute Maurício finished off Enciso’s clever build-up play to score his first senior international goal.
Despite that lifeline, Paraguay remained second best as the USA continued to press.
Gill produced further saves to keep out Tillman and Timothy Weah, but the Americans capped their performance in stoppage time with a stunning 26-pass move finished by Giovanni Reyna.
The 4-1 victory marked the first time the USA had scored four goals in a World Cup game, surpassing their 3-0 triumph over Paraguay in 1930.
For Paraguay, it was a sobering return, extending their losing streak against the Stars and Stripes to four straight matches.
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