In a commanding debut at the 2026 World Cup, the United States triumphed over Paraguay with a 4-1 victory, highlighted by an impressive hat-trick from Folarin Balogun. The match, held on Friday at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Los Angeles, showcased the dominance of the American team in Group D from the very start.
From the seventh minute, the game tilted in favor of the host nation when Damián Bobadilla inadvertently directed the ball into his own net, immediately putting the U.S. on the scoreboard. The relentless pressure from the American side left Paraguay struggling to find their footing, despite entering the tournament eager to make their mark after a long absence from the World Cup stage.
Although a goal by Balogun was initially ruled offside by VAR at the 28-minute mark, the AS Monaco forward quickly redeemed himself, scoring a clean goal to make it 2-0 just three minutes later. This disallowed goal only delayed the inevitable, as Balogun was clearly in top form that night.
As the first half drew to a close, the Brooklyn-born striker struck again in the 45th minute, sending the U.S. into halftime with a commanding 3-0 lead. The first half was a clear demonstration of America's superiority in Group D. Christian Pulisic, involved in the initial own-goal play, was substituted at halftime, along with Bobadilla, whose unfortunate error had set the tone for the match.
Balogun completed his hat-trick in the 50th minute, further cementing his status as the star of the evening, before being subbed out in the 72nd minute. Paraguay managed a consolation goal in the 73rd minute through Maurício Magalhães Prado, but the outcome was already sealed. Giovanni Reyna wrapped up the scoring in the 98th minute with the final goal.
The statistics told the story of the game: the U.S. enjoyed 63% possession compared to Paraguay's 37%, took 14 shots with five on target, while Paraguay managed just one shot on goal out of nine attempts. In corner kicks, the Americans dominated three to one. The physical nature of the game was evident in the foul count, with the U.S. committing 13 to Paraguay’s 16.
Discipline was also a factor, as Paraguay received four yellow cards—distributed among Cáceres, Almirón, Diego Gómez, Alex Arce, and Junior Alonso—while the U.S. saw just one yellow card for Tyler Adams. An additional VAR review in the 52nd minute involving Tim Ream confirmed an update to his card status.
With this decisive victory, the U.S. now leads Group D, which also includes Australia and Turkey. Paraguay, back in the World Cup after a 16-year hiatus since South Africa 2010, will need to regroup quickly to stay in contention. The recent history between these teams had already hinted at U.S. superiority, as demonstrated in their 2-1 friendly win over Paraguay in November 2025.
Key Questions About USA's World Cup Victory Over Paraguay
Who scored the goals for the United States in their 4-1 win over Paraguay?
Folarin Balogun scored a hat-trick, and Giovanni Reyna added a goal, contributing to the United States' 4-1 victory over Paraguay.
How did the United States dominate Paraguay statistically in their World Cup match?
The United States dominated possession with 63% compared to Paraguay's 37%, took 14 shots with five on target, and earned three corner kicks to Paraguay's one, illustrating their superiority throughout the match.
What was the impact of Folarin Balogun in the match against Paraguay?
Folarin Balogun was pivotal in the United States' victory, scoring three goals and demonstrating exceptional performance in the 50 minutes he played, making him the standout player of the match.