The United States men’s national team kicked off the 2026 FIFA World Cup exactly the way the home crowd at SoFi Stadium wanted: with a win that was never really in doubt. A 3-1 victory over Paraguay in the Group D opener on June 12 gave the USMNT three points and a healthy goal difference to start what could be the most scrutinized tournament in American soccer history.

How the goals happened

It took just seven minutes for the US to find the net, though they needed a little help. Paraguay defender Damian Bobadilla redirected the ball into his own goal, giving the Americans a 1-0 lead before most fans had finished finding their seats.

Folarin Balogun made it 2-0 in the 31st minute, converting what was a growing sense of American dominance into a concrete two-goal advantage. The striker then added his second of the night deep into first-half stoppage time, scoring at 45’+5 to send the US into the break with a 3-0 lead.

Paraguay came out for the second half needing a minor miracle, and while Mauricio’s 73rd-minute goal showed they weren’t about to roll over, the result was never genuinely threatened. The final whistle confirmed what everyone already knew: USA 3, Paraguay 1.

Context and what it means for the group

This was not the first time these two teams had met recently. The US beat Paraguay 2-1 in a friendly back in November 2025, a match that now looks like a useful dress rehearsal.

The 2026 World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, making it the first tournament spread across three nations. For the USMNT, playing their opener at SoFi Stadium, just outside Los Angeles, meant a de facto home advantage that they exploited fully.