United States vs Paraguay, 2026 FIFA World Cup, Group Stage
· FIFA World CupUnited States beats Paraguay in opener on Balogun double
The United States cruised past Paraguay to open its home World Cup campaign with a statement victory in front of a galaxy of Los Angeles stars.
Match Timeline
- 0': Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
- 0': First Half begins.
- 1': Julio Enciso (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 1': Foul by Tyler Adams (USA).
- 2': Attempt missed. Diego Gómez (Paraguay) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is just a bit too high. Assisted by Antonio Sanabria.
- 3': Attempt saved. Folarin Balogun (USA) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Orlando Gill (Paraguay). Assisted by Weston McKennie with a headed pass.
- 3': Offside, USA. Folarin Balogun is caught offside.
- 7': Own Goal by Damián Bobadilla, Paraguay. USA 1, Paraguay 0.
- 9': Folarin Balogun (USA) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 9': Foul by Gustavo Gómez (Paraguay).
- 9': Christian Pulisic (USA) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 9': Foul by Juan José Cáceres (Paraguay).
- 10': Juan José Cáceres (Paraguay) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 12': Foul by Andrés Cubas (Paraguay).
- 12': Malik Tillman (USA) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 13': Delay in match (USA).
- 13': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 14': Attempt missed. Julio Enciso (Paraguay) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Miguel Almirón with a headed pass.
- 16': Corner, USA. Conceded by Damián Bobadilla.
- 17': Omar Alderete (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 17': Foul by Chris Richards (USA).
- 17': Delay in match because of an injury Chris Richards (USA).
- 17': Delay in match because of an injury Omar Alderete (Paraguay).
- 19': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 20': Foul by Juan José Cáceres (Paraguay).
- 20': Folarin Balogun (USA) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 24': Delay in match for a drinks break.
- 27': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 28': Offside, USA. Folarin Balogun is caught offside.
- 31': Goal! USA 2, Paraguay 0. Folarin Balogun (USA) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Christian Pulisic.
- 35': Attempt missed. Folarin Balogun (USA) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Christian Pulisic with a cross.
- 37': Attempt blocked. Malik Tillman (USA) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
- 37': Corner, USA. Conceded by Andrés Cubas.
- 37': Attempt missed. Chris Richards (USA) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Malik Tillman with a cross following a corner.
- 38': Chris Richards (USA) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 38': Foul by Antonio Sanabria (Paraguay).
- 40': Folarin Balogun (USA) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 40': Foul by Andrés Cubas (Paraguay).
- 42': Foul by Christian Pulisic (USA).
- 42': Juan José Cáceres (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 43': Attempt saved. Malik Tillman (USA) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal by Orlando Gill (Paraguay).
- 45': Foul by Chris Richards (USA).
- 45': Antonio Sanabria (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 45': Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
- 45'+2': Miguel Almirón (Paraguay) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 45'+2': Foul by Malik Tillman (USA).
- 45'+5': Goal! USA 3, Paraguay 0. Folarin Balogun (USA) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Malik Tillman.
- 45'+6': First Half ends, USA 3, Paraguay 0.
- 45': Substitution, Paraguay. Mauricio replaces Damián Bobadilla.
- 45': Substitution, USA. Sebastian Berhalter replaces Christian Pulisic.
- 45': Second Half begins USA 3, Paraguay 0.
- 47': Attempt blocked. Folarin Balogun (USA) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Antonee Robinson.
- 48': Attempt blocked. Miguel Almirón (Paraguay) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
- 48': Folarin Balogun (USA) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 48': Foul by Gustavo Gómez (Paraguay).
- 49': Attempt blocked. Diego Gómez (Paraguay) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked.
- 49': Corner, Paraguay. Conceded by Tim Ream.
- 50': Attempt blocked. Diego Gómez (Paraguay) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Miguel Almirón.
- 50': Miguel Almirón (Paraguay) has gone down, but the referee deems it simulation.
- 51': Delay in match (USA). VAR checking.
- 52': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 52': VAR Decision: Card Changed.
- 53': Miguel Almirón (Paraguay) is shown the yellow card.
- 56': Foul by Andrés Cubas (Paraguay).
- 56': Tyler Adams (USA) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 57': Attempt blocked. Malik Tillman (USA) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Weston McKennie.
- 57': Foul by Chris Richards (USA).
- 57': Julio Enciso (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 59': Corner, USA. Conceded by Júnior Alonso.
- 59': Foul by Tyler Adams (USA).
- 59': Mauricio (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 59': Tyler Adams (USA) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 60': Foul by Alex Freeman (USA).
- 60': Julio Enciso (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 61': Attempt missed. Malik Tillman (USA) right footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right.
- 62': Substitution, Paraguay. Álex Arce replaces Antonio Sanabria.
- 65': Attempt blocked. Julio Enciso (Paraguay) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Júnior Alonso.
- 65': Attempt missed. Diego Gómez (Paraguay) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Álex Arce.
- 68': Delay in match for a drinks break.
- 71': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 71': Attempt blocked. Miguel Almirón (Paraguay) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Omar Alderete with a headed pass.
- 71': Foul by Juan José Cáceres (Paraguay).
- 71': Malik Tillman (USA) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 71': Delay in match because of an injury Folarin Balogun (USA).
- 72': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 72': Substitution, USA. Timothy Weah replaces Sergiño Dest.
- 72': Substitution, USA. Ricardo Pepi replaces Folarin Balogun.
- 73': Foul by Antonee Robinson (USA).
- 73': Juan José Cáceres (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 73': Goal! USA 3, Paraguay 1. Mauricio (Paraguay) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Julio Enciso following a set piece situation.
- 75': Attempt saved. Malik Tillman (USA) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Orlando Gill (Paraguay). Assisted by Ricardo Pepi.
- 77': Malik Tillman (USA) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 77': Foul by Andrés Cubas (Paraguay).
- 77': Attempt missed. Timothy Weah (USA) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Malik Tillman.
- 79': Malik Tillman (USA) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 79': Foul by Diego Gómez (Paraguay).
- 79': Diego Gómez (Paraguay) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 79': Substitution, Paraguay. Ramón Sosa replaces Miguel Almirón.
- 79': Substitution, Paraguay. Gustavo Velázquez replaces Juan José Cáceres.
- 80': Substitution, Paraguay. Alejandro Romero replaces Diego Gómez.
- 82': Substitution, USA. Giovanni Reyna replaces Malik Tillman.
- 83': Foul by Timothy Weah (USA).
- 83': Julio Enciso (Paraguay) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 83': Offside, Paraguay. Gustavo Gómez is caught offside.
- 84': Alejandro Romero (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 84': Foul by Giovanni Reyna (USA).
- 86': Foul by Ricardo Pepi (USA).
- 86': Ramón Sosa (Paraguay) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 86': Tyler Adams (USA) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 86': Foul by Omar Alderete (Paraguay).
- 88': Giovanni Reyna (USA) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 88': Foul by Álex Arce (Paraguay).
- 88': Álex Arce (Paraguay) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 89': Attempt missed. Ricardo Pepi (USA) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Weston McKennie.
- 89': Foul by Timothy Weah (USA).
- 89': Júnior Alonso (Paraguay) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 90': Attempt missed. Sebastian Berhalter (USA) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the right following a fast break.
- 90'+1': Giovanni Reyna (USA) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 90'+1': Foul by Andrés Cubas (Paraguay).
- 90'+1': Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time.
- 90'+3': Tyler Adams (USA) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 90'+3': Foul by Júnior Alonso (Paraguay).
- 90'+3': Júnior Alonso (Paraguay) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 90'+3': Delay in match because of an injury Andrés Cubas (Paraguay).
- 90'+4': Delay over. They are ready to continue.
- 90'+4': Sebastian Berhalter (USA) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 90'+4': Foul by Alejandro Romero (Paraguay).
- 90'+7': Attempt blocked. Timothy Weah (USA) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Tyler Adams.
- 90'+8': Goal! USA 4, Paraguay 1. Giovanni Reyna (USA) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Alex Freeman.
- 90'+9': Second Half ends, USA 4, Paraguay 1.
- 0': Match ends, USA 4, Paraguay 1.
Statistics
PAR |
USA![]() |
|
|---|---|---|
| 17 | Fouls | 13 |
| 5 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| 1 | Offsides | 2 |
| 1 | Corner Kicks | 3 |
| 3 | Saves | 1 |
| 34.7 | Possession | 65.3 |
| 9 | SHOTS | 16 |
| 1 | ON GOAL | 6 |
| 0.1 | On Target % | 0.4 |
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 |
| 0 | Penalty Kicks Taken | 0 |
| 232 | Accurate Passes | 509 |
| 319 | Passes | 598 |
| 0.7 | Pass Completion % | 0.9 |
| 1 | Accurate Crosses | 3 |
| 5 | Crosses | 19 |
| 0.0 | Cross % | 0.2 |
| 59 | Long Balls | 48 |
| 20 | Accurate Long Balls | 26 |
| 0.3 | Long Balls % | 0.5 |
| 5 | Blocked Shots | 4 |
| 16 | Effective Tackles | 7 |
| 21 | Tackles | 9 |
| 0.8 | Tackle % | 0.8 |
| 10 | Interceptions | 9 |
| 33 | Effective Clearances | 15 |
| 33 | Clearances | 15 |
Game Information
Venue: SoFi Stadium
Location: Inglewood, California, USA
Attendance: 70,492
FIFA World Cup Table
| # | TEAM | GP | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States | 1 | +3 | 3 |
| 2 | Australia | 1 | +2 | 3 |
| 3 | Türkiye | 1 | -2 | 0 |
| 4 | Paraguay | 1 | -3 | 0 |
Line-Ups
United States (4-2-3-1)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 24 | Matt Freese (GK) |
| 13 | Tim Ream |
| 3 | Chris Richards |
| 5 | Antonee Robinson |
| 16 | Alex Freeman |
| 8 | Weston McKennie |
| 17 | Malik Tillman |
| 4 | Tyler Adams |
| 20 | Folarin Balogun |
| 10 | Christian Pulisic |
| 2 | Sergiño Dest |
Paraguay (4-4-2)
| No. | Name |
|---|---|
| 12 | Orlando Gil (GK) |
| 3 | Omar Alderete |
| 15 | Gustavo Gómez |
| 6 | Júnior Alonso |
| 4 | Juan Jose Cáceres |
| 16 | Damián Bobadilla |
| 14 | Andrés Cubas |
| 10 | Miguel Almirón |
| 8 | Diego Gómez |
| 19 | Julio Enciso |
| 9 | Antonio Sanabria |
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