The United States Men's National Team opened the 2026 FIFA World Cup on home soil with a record-breaking 4-1 demolition of Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium.
Los Angeles, California — June 12, 2026
America is ready. The United States Men's National Team announced themselves as genuine World Cup contenders on home soil Friday night — delivering a record-breaking 4-1 demolition of Paraguay at a packed Los Angeles Stadium in the most significant night for American soccer in over thirty years.
In the first FIFA World Cup match to be held on US soil in more than three decades, the USMNT delivered a commanding 4-1 win in their opener against Paraguay. Four goals — two from striker Folarin Balogun plus an own goal by Paraguayan defender Damian Bobadilla and a late strike by American Gio Reyna — electrified the packed and partisan crowd at Los Angeles Stadium. The final tally was a record for the US men, who had never scored more than three goals in a single World Cup game.
The scoring started early with a Paraguay own goal in the seventh minute, but the US kept pressing and creating chances. Balogun bagged a first-half brace to erase any doubt about the outcome.
Freeman interchanged with Weah on the right flank before knocking it into the path of Reyna, who was allowed to get into the 18-yard box unmarked before dispatching a perfectly hit strike with the outside of his right boot that sailed past the goalkeeper and in at the far post to seal the fourth.
The United States cruised past Paraguay to open its home World Cup campaign with a statement victory in front of a galaxy of Los Angeles stars.
Friday's game was evidence of just how far the US attack has come since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the US managed only three goals across all four games it played in.
This was not just a victory. It was a message — to the rest of Group D, to the rest of the tournament and to the millions of American fans who have been waiting decades for a World Cup on home soil to celebrate.
Los Angeles Stadium was electric from the first whistle. The largest crowd ever to watch the USMNT on American soil packed every seat — celebrities, politicians and die-hard soccer fans united in an extraordinary moment for American sport.
The squad is built around a familiar core, with Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Folarin Balogun among the names who led the way.
Pulisic — America's captain and its most recognizable player — was the heartbeat of every US attack, orchestrating the flowing, confident football that had the LA crowd roaring throughout.
The final tally was a record for the US men, who had never scored more than three goals in a single World Cup game.
It is a 12th World Cup appearance for the US, who have advanced from the group stage seven times but have never finished higher than third place — the finish they achieved on their tournament debut in 1930.
On Friday night in Los Angeles, a new generation of American players set their sights on going further than any US team has gone before.
Next up for the US is Australia on Friday June 19 in Seattle, and then the Americans will wrap up the group stage with a June 25 game against Turkey back in Los Angeles.
A win against Australia would effectively secure qualification for the knockout stages with a game to spare — putting the USMNT in prime position to make a historic deep run in a World Cup on their own soil.
DeSanta News will continue to cover every USMNT match throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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May 30, 2026 · 2 min read
