Gio Reyna stunner seals brilliant win for USA against Paraguay
Giovanni Reyna scored a sublime stoppage-time goal to put the seal in a dominant 4-1 victory for the USA against Paraguay in their opening Group D fixture at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
USA 4-1 Paraguay
Goals: 1-0 Bobadilla (o.g.) 7’, 2-0 Balogun 31’ (assist: Pulišić), 3-0 Balogun 45’+5 (assist: Adams), 3-1 Maurício 73’ (assist: Enciso), 4-1 Reyna 90’+8 (assist: Freeman)
The USA kicked off their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign at a sold-out Los Angeles Stadium, hosting Paraguay in Group D. Around 70,000 fans packed the venue for the occasion, which was preceded by a spectacular opening ceremony featuring performances from the likes of Katy Perry, Future and Tyla.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino named an attack-minded starting XI, with star man Christian Pulišić in midfield alongside Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Malik Tillman.
Former Bayern Munich and Hoffenheim defender Chris Richards, who had been out of action for around a month with an injury, was passed fit to start. For Paraguay, star attacker Julio Enciso was declared fit despite a knock sustained in their final pre-tournament friendly.
Own goal opens the scoring
The match began at a frantic pace. Paraguay had the first chance in the second minute when Antonio Sanabria slipped the ball inside to Diego Gómez, whose left-footed shot from a tight angle was well saved by Matt Freese.
The USA responded immediately and were rewarded in the seventh minute. Weston McKennie received possession on the halfway line, strode forward and spread the ball to Pulišić, who darted past two defenders and into the box before squaring it back.
McKennie's attempted cut-back was inadvertently turned into his own net by Paraguay's Damián Bobadilla. Juan José Cáceres was booked for Paraguay in the 10th minute as the South Americans struggled to cope with the hosts' intensity.
Balogun doubles the lead
The USA continued to dominate and were rewarded with a second goal in the 31st minute. Antonee Robinson curled a low, long ball forward down the flank for Pulišić, who had plenty of space to run into.
He got into the box and cut it back for Folarin Balogun, who side-footed the ball into the net. A goal from Balogun was disallowed shortly before that, with both the scorer and Pulišić adjudged to have been in offside positions in the build-up.
Tillman went close on several occasions, including a close-range effort saved by goalkeeper Orlando Gill in the 43rd minute, while Richards headed just wide from a Tillman corner in the 38th minute.
Balogun's knockout blow
Just when it seemed Paraguay might reach the interval with some hope, Balogun struck again deep into first-half stoppage time.
He latched onto a pass, outmuscled his marker, cut inside the box, outfoxed another defender and then rifled a left-footed shot into the top corner in the fifth minute of stoppage time to make it 3-0.
The USA went into the break having been dominant for almost the entire first half, constantly causing Paraguay problems with their movement off the ball.
Paraguay push back after the break
At half-time, Paraguay brought on Maurício for Bobadilla, while the USA replaced Pulišić with Sebastian Berhalter. The South Americans started the second half with more urgency, creating several chances in quick succession.
Miguel Almirón was booked in the 53rd minute — a decision that came after a VAR review overturned an initial caution shown to Tim Ream, with the referee instead cautioning Almirón for diving.
Tyler Adams was also cautioned for the USA in the 59th minute. Tillman went close again, firing wide in the 61st minute after a one-two with Balogun.
Maurício gives Paraguay hope
In the 62nd minute, Paraguay replaced Antonio Sanabria with Álex Arce. The USA made a double change in the 72nd minute, with Timothy Weah replacing Sergiño Dest and Ricardo Pepi coming on for Balogun.
Paraguay pulled one back in the 73rd minute when goalkeeper Orlando Gill punted a long ball forward, the USA defence failed to deal with it, and Enciso slid the ball to his left for Maurício, who slotted it in first time.
Reyna seals it in style
Paraguay made further changes in the 79th and 80th minutes, bringing on Ramón Sosa for Almirón, Gustavo Velázquez for Cáceres, and Kaku for Diego Gómez. The USA responded by introducing Giovanni Reyna for Tillman in the 82nd minute, with the crowd giving Tillman a standing ovation for his performance.
Reyna then capped a brilliant team display in the eighth minute of stoppage time, collecting the ball from Alex Freeman and curling a stunning effort with the outside of his boot into the top corner to make it 4-1.
