(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
USA Open World Cup Campaign with 4–1 Win Over Paraguay in Los Angeles
The United States began their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign in impressive fashion, defeating Paraguay 4–1 in their opening Group D match at Los Angeles Stadium.
Striker Folarin Balogun led the charge with two first-half goals, helping the co-hosts secure a strong start in front of a home crowd. The USA’s overall performance marked their highest goal tally in a World Cup match.
The opening goal came early after pressure from the US attack forced an own goal by Paraguay. Balogun then doubled the lead before scoring again just before half-time to complete his brace.
Paraguay showed more intent in the second half and managed to pull one goal back through substitute Mauricio. However, the United States maintained control of the match and added a fourth goal late in the game through Gio Reyna.
A key concern for the US team was the fitness of captain Christian Pulisic, who was substituted at half-time due to a minor injury issue. Team officials later said the situation will be monitored ahead of the next match.
US head coach Mauricio Pochettino praised the team’s performance and said the strong start will boost confidence for the remainder of the group stage.
The match was played in front of a full stadium in Los Angeles, with fans creating a lively atmosphere for the tournament opener on US soil.
The United States will next face Australia in their second group match, while Paraguay will look to recover in their upcoming fixture against Türkiye.
