Folarin Balogun put on a performance for the history books on June 12, scoring twice as the United States Men’s National Team dismantled Paraguay 4-1 in the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The result marks the biggest win margin in a home tournament opener for the USMNT, and it sent 70,492 fans at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California into a frenzy.

Here’s the thing that makes this more than just a feel-good scoreline: Balogun became the first American player to net multiple goals in a single World Cup match since 1930. That’s 96 years of US soccer history, and nobody managed to do it until Thursday night.

How the goals unfolded

The US wasted no time asserting control. Paraguay’s Damián Bobadilla put the ball into his own net in the 7th minute, with Christian Pulisic’s clever play forcing the error. Balogun then found the net in the 31st minute to double the lead. He wasn’t done. Deep into first-half stoppage time, at 45+5 minutes, the striker struck again, sending the US into halftime with a commanding 3-0 cushion.

Paraguay pulled one back through Maurício in the 73rd minute. But Gio Reyna slammed the door shut with a goal in the 90th+8th minute, putting the final exclamation point on a dominant display.

The match was played under coach Mauricio Pochettino. This was the US’s first home World Cup in 32 years, the last being the 1994 tournament.

Balogun’s breakout on the biggest stage

Balogun entered the World Cup riding a strong wave of club form, having scored 19 goals during the 2025-26 season prior to the tournament opener.

The 1930 comparison is significant. That year, Bert Patenaude scored a hat trick against Paraguay, of all teams, in the very first World Cup ever held. Nearly a century later, Balogun picked the same opponent to join him in the record books.

What this means for the tournament and beyond

The USMNT now sits in a strong position atop Group D, with their next match scheduled for June 19 against Australia in Seattle.