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The USMNT and Paraguay kicked off at 9 pm ET from Los Angeles Stadium. The USMNT, led by Mauricio Pochettino, enters 17th place in the FIFA World Ranking on Friday.
The United States' World Cup bid got off to a dream start when Paraguayan Damián Bobadilla scored an own goal in the sixth minute, giving the Americans an early lead in their long-awaited group stage showdown.
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Christian Pulisic of the United States celebrates with his teammates his first goal, an own goal by Paraguay's Damián Bobadilla on June 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (:Kiyoshi Mio/Image Images)
Fans inside the packed stadium in Inglewood, California, roared as the USMNT took an early lead.
Folarin Balogun doubled the United States' lead in the 30th minute. The New York native celebrated wildly with his teammates after scoring his first World Cup goal, a historic moment in his international career.
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Balogun's goal gave the United States a two-goal lead in the 30th minute, the third-fastest goal the Americans have reached that mark in a World Cup match. The only time the US team managed to put the ball in the net before was in 2002 against Portugal (29th minute) and in a 1930 match against Paraguay (15th minute).
Folarin Balogun of USA and Gustavo Gomez of Paraguay compete for the ball during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. (José Bretón/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Balogun struck again just before halftime, extending the United States' lead and sending the crowd in Inglewood into a frenzy. Balogun ran onto a pinpoint pass from teammate Malik Tillman before firing a shot into the top left corner for a highlight goal.
Team USA headed into halftime with a 3-0 lead.
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