70,492 fans packed into SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday night. And every single one of them witnessed something that hasn’t happened in nearly a century of American football history.
The United States didn’t just beat Paraguay 4-1 in their World Cup opener. They rewrote the record books while doing it.
A First Half That Changed Everything
From the opening whistle the USA meant business. Paraguay threatened early — a strong attack in the first three minutes that Matt Freese dealt with comfortably — but after that brief scare the hosts took complete control and never looked back.
Weston McKennie struck first just seven minutes in, taking a feed from Christian Pulisic and punching it home to make it 1-0. And here’s the historical footnote that Opta were quick to point out — it was the third earliest goal ever scored by a host nation in a World Cup opening match. Only France in 1938 and Germany in 2006 were quicker off the mark.
Balogun added the second in the 31st minute off another Pulisic pass — his 10th international goal and remarkably his World Cup debut — before completing his brace in the 49th minute to make it 3-0. The USA had built a three goal first half lead in a World Cup match. Something that had literally never happened before in the history of the programme.
Balogun — The New York Kid Who Chose His Moment
Let’s talk about Folarin Balogun for a second because this story deserves its own chapter. Born in New York, developed through the English football system, chose the USA over England in 2023 — and repaid that decision with a two goal World Cup debut performance on home soil in front of tens of thousands of screaming American fans.
The last player to score multiple goals for the USA in a World Cup game was Bert Patenaude — who did it with a hat trick against Paraguay in 1930. The very same opponent. Nearly a century apart. You genuinely cannot write stuff like that.
The Second Half And The Final Score
The USA controlled possession throughout the second half, perhaps taking their foot off the gas slightly, and Paraguay grabbed a consolation through Mauricio at the 73rd minute after Julio Enciso’s assist. A brief moment of hope for the South Americans that amounted to nothing.
Gio Reyna put the cherry on top after the 90th minute to make it 4-1 — the highest scoring World Cup match in US history. Four goals in a single World Cup game. They’d only managed three in the entire 2022 Qatar tournament.
The Records Keep Stacking Up
Let’s just run through what happened on Friday night because it deserves to be listed out properly. First ever 3-0 first half lead in a World Cup. First time scoring three goals in a game since 2002. Highest ever goal tally in a World Cup match. First multi goal scorer since 1930. And the first World Cup game on home soil since a 1-0 loss to Brazil in 1994.
That’s not a good performance. That’s a statement.
What Comes Next
The USA face Australia next on June 19 at Lumen Field in Seattle — another winnable game that could effectively seal their place in the knockout rounds. The US have made it through to the last 16 in three of their last four World Cups and with a performance like this behind them the belief in camp must be sky high.
One small concern — Pulisic was substituted during the game and his fitness is being monitored ahead of the Australia clash. Losing their creative heartbeat at any point in this tournament would be a significant blow.
But for now? Forget the worries. The USA are on home soil, the fans are electric, the records are falling and Pochettino’s side just announced themselves to the entire world in the most emphatic way possible.
America is ready for this World Cup. Friday night proved it. 🇺🇸⚽🔥
