Folarin Balogun scored two goals in the first half to help the United States defeat Paraguay 4-1 in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The AS Monaco striker found the net at 31 minutes and again just before halftime. An early own goal by Paraguay and a late strike by Giovanni Reyna completed the scoring for the Americans at SoFi Stadium.
Balogun, who plays as a forward for both his club and the US national team, made a strong impact in the Group D game on home soil. The result gives the United States three points from their first match in the tournament.
The team is coached by Mauricio Pochettino and features other key players including Christian Pulisic. The win sets a positive tone as the Americans look to advance from the group stage.