US defender Chris Richards records perfect passing rate in World Cup opener

In the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 12, the United States defeated Paraguay 4–1 at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium. Defender Chris Richards, a former Bayern Munich player now with Crystal Palace, completed 83 passes, each finding a teammate, giving him a 100 % pass success rate – the first such record since detailed World Cup statistics began in 1966.

Striker Folarin Balogun, born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents and previously a youth international for England, scored twice for the United States. He chose to represent his birth country after a peripatetic upbringing, highlighting his personal journey from Arsenal's academy to the senior US national team.