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Paraguay given no chance: USA starts World Cup with a big win
๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท Turkey /Sports

Paraguay given no chance: USA starts World Cup with a big win

From Cumhuriyet · () Turkish

Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The United States defeated Paraguay 4-1 in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
  • The US team secured a commanding victory with goals from Pulisic, Balogun (twice), and Reyna.
  • An own goal by Paraguay's Bobadilla opened the scoring for the US.

The United States launched their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a resounding 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their opening Group D match held at the Los Angeles Stadium. The win, characterized by a strong offensive display, has ignited hopes for the American squad's potential performance in the tournament.

The match commenced with an elaborate opening ceremony featuring performances by renowned artists. Shortly after, the US took an early lead in the 7th minute. Christian Pulisic's skillful play down the left flank led to a cross that was unfortunately turned into his own net by Paraguay's Bobadilla, giving the US a 1-0 advantage.

The American team intensified their pressure, doubling their lead in the 31st minute. Pulisic again provided the assist, finding Balogun, who converted with a precise shot. Balogun extended the lead further in first-half stoppage time, scoring his second goal after a long pass from Tillman, making it 3-0 at halftime.

Paraguay managed to find a consolation goal in the 73rd minute through Mauricio, assisted by Enciso. However, the US had the final say, with Reyna scoring their fourth goal in the 9th minute of stoppage time, sealing a comprehensive victory.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.