The United States began their home World Cup campaign in dazzling fashion on Friday night, delivering a commanding 4–1 victory over Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and instantly energising a star-filled home crowd.

In a performance full of tempo, aggression, and attacking clarity, the hosts overwhelmed Paraguay early and never looked back, racing into a 3–0 lead before halftime and effectively sealing the contest within the opening 45 minutes.

Folarin Balogun was the standout performer, scoring twice as the U.S. attack tore through the opposition defence. The breakthrough came almost immediately when sustained pressure forced an early own goal from Paraguay’s Damian Bobadilla, setting the tone for a dominant display.

The momentum only intensified as Balogun added his brace, capitalising on sharp build-up play and clinical finishing that left the Paraguayan backline struggling to contain wave after wave of attacks.

By halftime, the United States were firmly in control, with their intensity and fluid movement reflecting a side determined to silence doubts that had followed them into the tournament after a shaky run of pre-World Cup friendlies.

Head coach Mauricio Pochettino saw his team respond emphatically to that scrutiny, with a performance that combined structure, pressing, and attacking flair.

“Just a great start from the guys,” said US star Christian Pulisic after the match. “The guys came out with so much energy, just a great performance and a deserved win.

It’s just the start of a long journey. We’ve got a lot more to do. It’s really, really great start and we should be proud but we’ve got to keep pushing and be ready for the next game.”

US forward #20 Folarin Balogun leaves the pitch during the 2026 World Cup Group D football match between USA and Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP)
The atmosphere inside the stadium matched the intensity on the pitch. Pop superstar Katy Perry performed just before kickoff, while a crowd of more than 70,000 spectators included Hollywood figures such as Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Halle Berry, turning the opening night into a spectacle that blended sport and entertainment.

Despite Paraguay pulling one goal back in the second half through a strike from Brazil-born Alberto Mauricio, the United States quickly reasserted control. Substitute Gio Reyna added a late fourth goal to complete a convincing scoreline and underline the depth of attacking options available to the hosts.

The only concern for the United States came from a brief lapse in defensive concentration that led to Paraguay’s consolation goal, but it did little to overshadow an otherwise dominant showing.

With group-stage fixtures against Australia and Turkey still ahead, the result sends a strong early signal of intent from a team looking to turn home advantage into a deep tournament run.