USA 4-1 Paraguay Highlights, FIFA World Cup: Pochettino’s Men Pass First Test With Flying Colors

Greetings and welcome back to our live blog covering USA vs Paraguay in the FIFA World Cup 2026 -- stay tuned for all the live updates, team news, and key moments as the Group D opener gets underway in Los Angeles.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be telecast live on Unite8 Sports network on television. For live streaming, one can catch the action on the Zee5 app and website.

USA face Paraguay in a Group D clash at Los Angeles Stadium on Saturday, 13 June, as both begin their World Cup 2026 campaign in a group also featuring Australia and Turkey, where only the top two progress.

The co-hosts, led by Mauricio Pochettino, arrive after mixed warm-up results and will look to maximise home advantage in their 12th World Cup appearance.

Paraguay, under Gustavo Alfaro, come in with strong qualifying form and a compact, set-piece-focused style, but have historically struggled in World Cup openers. Both sides will be aiming for an early statement in a tightly contested group.

Chris Richards returns for the USA after recovering from an ankle injury and starts in defence alongside captain Tim Ream, giving the hosts a timely boost at the back.

In attack, the USA will rely on Christian Pulisic as their main threat, with Folarin Balogun and Ricardo Pepi providing support in a fast, mobile front line.

Players from both teams are on the field and the match will kick off soon.

We’re underway. USA immediately goes direct from the kickoff, launching the ball out for a throw-in deep in the opposition half, a deliberate tactic to pin Paraguay back and apply early pressure from the very first seconds.

A dream start for the hosts! McKennie sparks the move with a powerful run from deep before linking up brilliantly with Pulisic. The Milan star dances past two defenders and returns the favor, and McKennie’s low cutback causes chaos in the box. Bobadilla can only turn it into his own net as USA take an early lead.

USA carve open the Paraguay defense again! Tillman produces a delightful backheel flick to release McKennie in the box, but the midfielder is quickly swarmed by defenders and can’t get a clean shot away. 

The whistle brings an end to a one-sided first half. USA have been outstanding from start to finish, combining intensity, creativity, and clinical finishing to race into a three-goal lead. Balogun’s brace and Paraguay’s own goal have the hosts firmly in command, with Pulisic and Tillman pulling the strings. bhbbbbbbbbbbbbb

A dramatic twist after the referee heads to VAR. Replays clearly show Miguel Almirón going to ground without any contact inside the area. The decision is overturned, Tim Ream’s yellow card is rescinded, and Almirón is instead booked for simulation. Paraguay’s hopes of winning a penalty vanish, while the USA emerge from the review unscathed. A big call, and one that the home crowd thoroughly enjoys.

The tempo has dropped noticeably as the USA comfortably controls possession deep inside Paraguay’s half. The hosts look content to manage the game rather than force the issue, patiently moving the ball around and conserving energy. Paraguay have shown more discipline defensively since the break, closing spaces better and limiting clear-cut chances, but they continue to offer very little going forward. 

Paraguay finally have a lifeline! A simple long ball from the goalkeeper sparks the move as Almirón brings it down brilliantly before feeding Enciso on the edge of the area. The playmaker spots Mauricio making a run into space on the left, and the substitute keeps his composure, drilling a low finish into the bottom-right corner. 

A statement victory from the United States to kick off their World Cup campaign! The Americans were in complete control from the opening whistle and capped off a dominant display with a late moment of brilliance from Giovanni Reyna. Deep into stoppage time, Freeman picked out the substitute on the edge of the box, and Reyna did the rest, curling a stunning finish with the outside of his right boot beyond the goalkeeper. It seals a historic night for Mauricio Pochettino’s side, who score four goals in a World Cup match for the first time ever and take all three points in emphatic fashion. Paraguay showed brief resistance after Mauricio’s goal, but USA’s quality ultimately proved too much.