USMNT beats Paraguay 4-1 in 2026 World Cup opening match

The United States men’s national soccer team opened the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 4‑1 victory over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Goals came from a double by Folarin Balogun, a strike by Giovanni Reyna and an own‑goal by Damián Bobadilla. The win marked a dominant performance in the tournament’s debut game.

Defender Chris Richards set a World Cup record by completing 83 of 83 passes, a 100 % accuracy rate – the highest number of perfect passes recorded in a World Cup match since statistics began in 1966. His flawless passing contributed to the United States’ control of the game and highlighted the team’s strong start as the host nation.

The match also illustrated the logistical efforts surrounding the event, with expanded security checks in the stadium’s parking lot and corporate fan‑zone activations surrounding the kickoff.