![\"USA](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/2b04039f-e8ca-4b89-89ef-766ffa9f4870.jpg.webp\")
Image source, Getty Images<\/p>\nBalogun leads USA to opening winpublished at 07:33 BST<\/p>\n
07:33 BST<\/p>\n
USA 4-1 Paraguay<\/p>\n
Image source, Getty Images<\/p>\n
The United States opened their World Cup campaign with an impressive 4-1 victory against Paraguay as former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun struck twice to inspire the co-hosts to an assured start in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n
Balogun became just the second US player to score more than once in a World Cup match, after Bert Patenaude – who netted the tournament’s first-ever hat-trick in the inaugural 1930 edition, also against Paraguay.<\/p>\n
It is also the US’ joint-biggest win at a World Cup – matching the 3-0 victories against Paraguay and Belgium in 1930, when they finished third.<\/p>\n
It took the home side just seven minutes to open the scoring in the Group D opener in front of their vocal supporters, courtesy of an own goal from Paraguay’s Damian Bobadilla.<\/p>\n
Christian Pulisic, however, was the architect, squeezing between two defenders with a quick burst of pace before feeding Weston McKennie, whose cutback was inadvertently turned into his own net by Bobadilla.<\/p>\n
Monaco striker Balogun opened his account after latching on to a pass from Pulisic, before pulling the US further ahead, pouncing on a through ball from Malik Tillman and escaping a challenge from Sunderland defender Omar Alderete before curling past goalkeeper Orlando Gill to find the top corner.<\/p>\n
Paraguay struck next against the run of play through Brazilian-born Mauricio, who was slipped in by former Brighton forward Julio Enciso and slotted past Matt Freese.<\/p>\n
The US victory was capped off with the goal of the night from substitute Giovanni Reyna, who curled a 20-yard shot home with the outside of his right foot with the final kick of the game.<\/p>\n