USA beats Paraguay 4-1 in World Cup opener at SoFi Stadium

The United States launched its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday. The win, the host nation's highest-scoring World Cup result, was witnessed by a star-studded crowd that underscored the event's high-profile arrival in the city.

Goals from Giovanni Reyna and Folarin Balogun, coupled with a Paraguay own goal, propelled the U.S. to a dominant 3-0 lead by halftime. A classy finish late in the game sealed the emphatic result. Despite the lopsided scoreline, the victory came against a Paraguayan side that had recorded strong results in South American qualifying, including home wins against Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, and Argentina.

U.S. forward Christian Pulisic, who was substituted at halftime as an injury precaution, called the performance a great start but emphasized there is more work ahead. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino praised his team's display while stressing it was only one game and that the side needs to keep improving.

The match was preceded by a glitzy opening ceremony featuring performances by pop star Katy Perry and other artists, with costumes and props designed to evoke Los Angeles street art...