The U.S. Men’s National Team secured a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their FIFA World Cup opener at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Friday night.
Returning to home soil for a World Cup match for the first time in 32 years, the American squad overwhelmed their opponents early. The team built a 3-0 halftime advantage, which stands as their largest ever lead at that stage of a World Cup game.
Folarin Balogun powered the offense with two goals. He struck in the 31st minute and scored again in first-half stoppage time. The two-goal output made him the first American player to record a multi-goal performance in a World Cup match since 1930.
Christian Pulisic drove the early attack. He created the opening score by forcing a seventh-minute own goal off Damián Bobadilla. Pulisic then provided the assist on Balogun’s first goal before leaving the game at halftime due to minor calf tightness.
Paraguay cut into the deficit when MaurÃcio scored in the 73rd minute. Gio Reyna answered deep in second-half stoppage time, finishing a toe-flick goal to seal the win.
The final four-goal tally set a new record for the United States’ biggest margin of victory in tournament history. The result officially put the U.S. team atop Group D with three points and a plus-three goal differential.