For the first time in more than three decades, a men's World Cup match kicked off on American soil, and the United States made the moment count. The U.S. men's national team delivered a commanding 4-1 win over Paraguay in their Group D opener on Friday at Los Angeles Stadium, announcing themselves as genuine contenders in front of a roaring home crowd.
Two goals from striker Folarin Balogun, an own goal by Paraguay's Damián Bobadilla, and a late strike from Gio Reyna gave the U.S. a result that was a record for the men's program, which had never scored more than three goals in a single World Cup game. The 2022 squad, by comparison, managed just three goals across its entire four-game run in Qatar — a contrast that captures how far this group has traveled.
