USA vs Paraguay — World Cup, Group Stage - 1 (13 June 2026)
World Cup Group Stage - 1 
SoFi Stadium
USA vs Paraguay
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Folarin Balogun one of the night’s biggest winners as USA beat Paraguay 4-1
Folarin Balogun scored twice on his World Cup debut as the USMNT beat Paraguay 4-1, with a huge crowd and record TV audience behind it.
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USA vs Paraguay showed why Pochettino went aggressive from the start
USA vs Paraguay finished 4-1 as Mauricio Pochettino's bold 4-2-3-1 paid off, with Folarin Balogun scoring twice in 72 minutes.
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USA vs Paraguay showed Balogun's edge and Pulišić's importance
USA vs Paraguay finished 4-1 after a 3-0 halftime lead, with Balogun scoring twice, Pulišić assisting and Reyna adding a late finish.
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USA vs Paraguay: Balogun and Pulisic drive a convincing opening win
USA beat Paraguay 4-1 in their World Cup opener as Folarin Balogun scored twice, Christian Pulisic assisted, and Giovanni Reyna struck late.
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USA vs Paraguay: Pochettino's opening-night defensive call
USA open World Cup 2026 against Paraguay with Chris Richards a major doubt, Matt Freese established as No 1 and pressure on the hosts to start with three
Lineups & ratings
USA
4-2-3-1 Coach Mauricio Pochettino
10 ↓45'
8
4
13
Ream
5
2 ↓72'
Dest
24
Freese
3
20 ↓72'
17 ↓82'
16
- 14 Sebastian Berhalter for Christian Pulisic
- 9 Ricardo Pepi for Folarin Balogun
- 21 Tim Weah for Sergiño Dest
- 7 Giovanni Reyna for Malik Tillman
- 1 Matt Turner
- 6 Auston Trusty
- 11
- 12 Miles Robinson
- 15 Cristian Roldán
- 18 Maximilian Arfsten
- 19 Haji Wright
- 22
- 23
- 25 Chris Brady
- 26 Alex Zendejas
Paraguay
4-4-2 Coach Gustavo Alfaro
6
15
10 ↓79'
9 ↓62'
Sanabria
3
14
Cubas
19
12
Gill
16 ↓45'
Bobadilla
4 ↓79'
8 ↓80'
- 11 Mauricio for Damian Bobadilla
- 18 Alex Arce for Antonio Sanabria
- 2 Gustavo Velázquez for Juan Caceres
- 7 Ramón Sosa for Miguel Almirón
- 17 Alejandro Romero for Diego Gomez
- 1 Roberto Fernández
- 5 Fabián Balbuena
- 13 José Canale
- 20 Braian Ojeda
- 21 Gabriel Ávalos
- 22 Gastón Olveira
- 23
- 24 Gustavo Caballero
- 25 Isidro Pitta
- 26 Alexandro Maidana
Bench · USA
- 14 Sebastian Berhalter for Christian Pulisic
- 9 Ricardo Pepi for Folarin Balogun
- 21 Tim Weah for Sergiño Dest
- 7 Giovanni Reyna for Malik Tillman
- 1 Matt Turner
- 6 Auston Trusty
- 11
- 12 Miles Robinson
- 15 Cristian Roldán
- 18 Maximilian Arfsten
- 19 Haji Wright
- 22
- 23
- 25 Chris Brady
- 26 Alex Zendejas
Bench · Paraguay
- 11 Mauricio for Damian Bobadilla
- 18 Alex Arce for Antonio Sanabria
- 2 Gustavo Velázquez for Juan Caceres
- 7 Ramón Sosa for Miguel Almirón
- 17 Alejandro Romero for Diego Gomez
- 1 Roberto Fernández
- 5 Fabián Balbuena
- 13 José Canale
- 20 Braian Ojeda
- 21 Gabriel Ávalos
- 22 Gastón Olveira
- 23
- 24 Gustavo Caballero
- 25 Isidro Pitta
- 26 Alexandro Maidana