It was a dream night for the United States men’s national team, opening the 2026 World Cup with a rollicking 4-1 win over Paraguay in Inglewood, California.
The Americans were ahead after just seven minutes thanks to an own goal and played their best match in recent memory.
Here are our winners and losers from the USA’s first group match:
USMNT winners vs. Paraguay
Christian Pulisic: It was only 45 minutes for the Stars and Stripes’ biggest star, but that was all he needed to erase any worries about whether or not he’d be able to perform up to his best at this tournament.
A confident-looking Pulisic darted between two Paraguay defenders, kept up with the play and was able to set up the opening goal.
OWN GOAL. 1-0 USA! 🇺🇸
THE @USMNT SCORES FIRST AND LOS ANGELES IS ABSOLUTELY ELECTRIC! pic.twitter.com/tEbJU8E9PX
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 13, 2026
He didn’t let up, continually getting the better of defenders on the right side of the field and setting up Folarin Balogun for the second of the night.
The World Cup demands a team’s best players actually perform their best. After a rocky season with AC Milan, Pulisic looks up to the task for the U.S.
Folarin Balogun: Tough for a forward to have a better day than a double in the 4-1 win. Perhaps if the ball he put in the back of the net while offside had stood and he had a World Cup hat trick, it would’ve been even better.
But it was pretty darn good, as Balogun scored twice, providing the U.S. a confident finisher for the attacking options that were continually being created.
BALOGUN GETS HIS GOAL 🇺🇸
After getting a goal called back just minutes earlier, Folarin Balogun gets his FIFA World Cup moment pic.twitter.com/Hm4IDSJoln
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 13, 2026
USMNT optimists: Fans have been waiting for this tournament for a long time, but expectations seemed to range wildly. Some fans were thinking things could go poorly, especially after the March friendly defeats to Belgium and Portugal. Others, though, maintained that the U.S. would raise its game when it mattered most.
It’s early, but those who dared to dream of success will be feeling best – at least for the week between this match and the game against Australia.
Everyone around Chris Richards: The defender’s ankle certainly looked healthy. While he could’ve done better on Paraguay’s goal, he literally couldn’t have done better on the ball, completing every single pass of the 83 he attempted.
83 – Chris Richards completed all 83 passes he attempted for the #USMNT against Paraguay, the most passes with a 100 percent accuracy rate by any player in a FIFA World Cup match since 1966.
Perfection. pic.twitter.com/kTD2kmrrPa
— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) June 13, 2026
USMNT losers vs. Paraguay
Paraguay: Well, not a USMNT loser but a loser to the USMNT, Paraguay simply didn’t look ready to answer the bell. Manager Gustavo Alfaro opted to change things up a bit when the South Americans came out more aggressively than the typically defensive squad generally does.
While the chance to advance isn’t gone, the Albirroja need significant improvement, especially on the right where right back Juan Cáceres had a nightmare.
Sebastian Berhalter: It wasn’t an easy task for Berhalter, who was rushed into the match at the half for Christian Pulisic, but he literally struggled to find his footing, slipping on the turf in one moment and putting eight passes wrong on the night.
He also had a chance to put the ball into a wide-open net from distance late in he match and didn’t come anywhere near hitting the target. He’ll get other opportunities in this tournament, and this experience will serve him well.
Sergino Dest: The wide player will keep his spot in the starting XI, but he had an uncharacteristically sloppy game in the first half while others were at their most crisp. Dest took a poor touch when he was in the box and had a chance to put a shot on goal and also wasn’t able to connect on a cross.
Selecting losers on a night like Friday feels a bit picky. Mauricio Pochettino and his coaching staff will want to make improvements, but overall it was a great night for the U.S., one that fans will be able to enjoy all weekend.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA soccer vs. Paraguay winners and losers: Christian Pulisic shines
