Balogun Leads USMNT to Strong Start in World Cup
The United States came into the 2026 World Cup hungry. Past competitions and international friendly results have led to dismal results entering this World Cup and the team is currently seeking a reset entering the tournament.
Mexico and Canada co-hosts along with the United States in the World Cup, have already produced favorable results for the host nations. Mexico won their first match and Canada got a draw to produce their first ever point in a World Cup.
The US is not favored to win the World Cup, but they need to come away from this tournament with a positive outlook for the men’s team going into the future. Matt Freese, a Harvard alumnus, gets the start today over the New England Revolution’s Matt Turner who is more seasonal than Fresse in the goal for the USMNT. Perhaps Freese’s start is a look to the future.
In Los Angeles stadium, the teams, Paraguay and the United States march out onto the field. Dan+Shay and the attendees belted out the National Anthem to mark that the World Cup is being played in the United States for the first time since 1994.
The United States start the 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 lead thanks to Paraguay’s Damián Bovadilla scoring on an own goal in 7 minutes! Cristian Pulisic made a spectacular run to help cause that own goal. Great start for the US but they need to score more goals in order since it was so early in the match. After a goal that was call off for offside, Florian Balogun scores the United States first real goal in the World Cup to make it 2-0 United States over Paraguay in the 31st minute! The fans are going crazy! Balogun does it again! In the 45+5 minute, right before the half, he scores to make it 3-0 United States! The fast start the United States was looking for the World Cup seems to be happening.
Some concern for the United States at the start of the second half as Pulisic had to be sub out. Paraguay is not happy as there was yelling in the locker room. They are more physical in this half than last which was expected as they were the team that had the most fouls in South America during qualifying. Paraguay scores to make it 3-1 in the 73rd minute.
After intense second half, the United States would hold on to win this match as their World Cup campaign began with a success. Gio Reyna for the United States scores in the 90th+8 minute to seal the game 4-1 and help the US fans go home happy! The United States pressured Paraguay the entire match to the delight of the fans. Hopefully, the United States can keep the momentum going into their match against Australia on Friday.
Duke’s Moment of the Match
Balogun’s two goals were legendary to watch and cause the stadium in LA to rock with joy. He is the first United States player since 1930 to score multiple goals in a group stage match.