football 13 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
USA begin World Cup campaign with dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay
The US national team launched their home World Cup with a resounding 4-1 victory against Paraguay. Striker Folarin Balogun netted a first-half brace, but a calf concern for Christian Pulisic cast a slight shadow on the celebratory win. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/sports/world-cup/us-thrash-paraguay-in-la-to-launch-home-world-cup-in-style-5494794
The United States kicked off their FIFA World Cup journey with a commanding 4-1 triumph over Paraguay in Los Angeles. The victory, fueled by a brace from forward Folarin Balogun, marks the team’s highest goal tally in a World Cup match.
Balogun found the back of the net twice in the first half, becoming the first US player since 1930 to score two goals in a single World Cup game. The scoring opened with an own goal in the seventh minute, followed by Balogun’s clinical finishes. US captain Tim Ream expressed his satisfaction, stating, “It’s exactly the way we wanted to start the tournament.”
A potential concern for the co-hosts arose at halftime when Christian Pulisic was substituted due to calf tightness. Coach Mauricio Pochettino acknowledged the issue, hoping it wouldn’t be severe for upcoming matches.
Paraguay managed to pull a goal back in the 73rd minute through substitute Mauricio, capitalizing on a defensive lapse. However, the US sealed their emphatic win with a late goal from Gio Reyna. “The opposition were better than us,” admitted Paraguay defender Junior Alonso, reflecting on areas for improvement.
The match, held at a sold-out Los Angeles Stadium with a capacity of 70,492, featured a star-studded crowd including Tom Cruise and David Beckham. The vibrant atmosphere was amplified by a pre-game performance by Katy Perry, setting a festive tone for the tournament’s return to US soil after 32 years.
This opening win provides significant momentum for the US as they aim to surpass their previous World Cup performance. They are scheduled to face Australia next on June 19 in Seattle.