USA's World Cup Opener Victory Hailed as 'True Steamroller' Performance

The United States kicked off their 2026 World Cup campaign with a convincing 4-1 victory over Paraguay, leaving a strong impression on both domestic and international media. The co-hosts delivered a performance that US outlets are hailing as potentially the best first half ever played by the men's national team in a World Cup. The Athletic described the scene, noting how the goals and atmosphere ignited "true enthusiasm" among thousands of fans in red and white jerseys, with chants of "USA, USA" echoing through the stadium.

The Los Angeles Times suggested that the tournament, hosted on home soil, holds the potential to fundamentally reshape the development of soccer for future generations. The paper emphasized that the USA "coldly seized" this opportunity during their opening match. The positive reception extended beyond US borders, with neighboring co-host Mexico also offering praise. The sports newspaper Récord characterized the US team's performance as a "true steamroller," stating they "danced over Paraguay" in a decisive win.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino, while pleased with the result, urged his team to remain grounded. He acknowledged the strong performance but reminded his players that it was only the beginning of a long tournament, emphasizing that there were still areas for improvement. Pochettino highlighted the team's effort to channel the pressure and expectations of playing at home into positive energy, a strategy he has worked on with his players since taking charge.