Extended Highlights | Unstoppable USA Power Past Paraguay | 2026 World Cup

Name: Extended Highlights | Unstoppable USA Power Past Paraguay | 2026 World Cup
Uploaded: 2026-10-16T22:30:08+00:00
Duration: 11 min 33 s
Description: Extended highlights of the 2026 World Cup Group D opener between the USA and Paraguay in Los Angeles. The USA won 4-1 with an own goal, a Balogun brace and a Gio Reyna goal; Paraguay replied through…

FIFA

USA 4-1 Paraguay: Balogun brace and Gio Reyna strike seal opening win

Extended highlights of the 2026 World Cup Group D opener between the USA and Paraguay in Los Angeles. The USA won 4-1 with an own goal, a Balogun brace and a Gio Reyna goal; Paraguay replied through substitute Mauricio. The commentary praises the USA's key players and criticizes Paraguay's defending, while noting Paraguay may need their squad depth to go far.

USA's big players stepped up in the key attack — McKennie started the move, Pulisic darted between two players, and his pass toward Balogun led to Bobadilla's own goal.
Pulisic delivered as the USA's top man — He made a brilliant run and produced a superb pass to assist Balogun.
Dest looks ideally suited to a more advanced role and is a real threat — He got forward into the attack and had a shot, with support from McKennie.
Balogun's finish was most convincing and remarkably calm — He found space between defenders and coolly curled the ball into the top corner.
Paraguay will need to rely on their squad depth if they are to go far in this World Cup — Substitute Mauricio came on to score from Enciso's pass, and Almirón also made a good impact.
Paraguay got it horribly wrong in that defensive moment — Tillman was then presented with a glorious chance but failed to finish.
Gio Reyna's goal was a calm finish that sealed the win and belongs in the archives — He used the outside of his right foot to curl the ball past the goalkeeper, giving the USA four goals in a World Cup match for the first time.
The USA handsomely saw off Paraguay in the Group D opener in Los Angeles — The final score was 4-1.

Hosts USA made history in their first match of FIFA World Cup 2026, scoring four goals for the first time in World Cup history. Check out all the goals and highlights! WorldCup USA WorldCup2026 FIFA World Cup: 👉 https://www.instagram.com/fifaworldcup 👉 https://twitter.com/FIFAWorldCup 👉 https://www.facebook.com/fifaworldcup 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@fifaworldcup 👉 https://www.threads.com/@fifaworldcup 👉 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb78sHK30LKMhYZAwQ3i FIFA Women’s World Cup: 👉 https://www.instagram.com/fifawomensworldcup 👉 https://twitter.com/FIFAWWC 👉 https://www.facebook.com/fifawomensworldcup 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@fifawomensworldcup 👉 https://www.threads.com/@fifawomensworldcup 👉 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBedar4yltLthnZzT16 FIFA Club Football: 👉 https://www.instagram.com/fifaclubfootball/ 👉 https://twitter.com/FIFACF 👉 https://www.facebook.com/fifaclubfootball 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@fifaclubfootball 👉 https://www.threads.com/@fifaclubfootball 👉 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb8ijen6GcG8v4EXmW25

Transcript

[cheering] >> The noise levels which the USA players hope will sweep them to at least the last 16. And Paraguay must not be intimidated. >> [cheering] >> But they know their strengths as the players arrive into the stadium from one corner to the left of our high [music] commentary position. For the two starting elevens >> [music] >> in the opening match in Group D, time is nigh to deliver. >> [cheering] >> And it's Paraguay who are looking to force the issue on the own here. And Freeze having to turn that aside. Had to react quickly there, the USA goalkeeper. Away by Richards. But maybe the USA a little surprised at Paraguay's early moments here. >> [cheering] >> Diego Gómez it was that flashed it across and you're right, little touch from the goalkeeper. >> So too is Julio Enciso for Paraguay, but both have made it into their respective [cheering] starting elevens. And it's a routine save for Hill as the USA threaten for the first time. >> Lovely off the ball running, wasn't it, from Weston McKennie? >> Freeman. >> [cheering] >> This is nicely worked by the USA, trying to stretch the Paraguay back line. They've certainly done that. There's a big chance. It's an own goal. >> [cheering] >> Look like it came OFF DAMIáN BOBADILLA. WELL, THE USA HIT the front. IT WAS A DYNAMIC ATTACK IN ODD MINUTES. [cheering] BUT, IT NEEDED A PARAGUAY BOOTS TO TURN IT PAST A stranded goalkeeper in Orlando Heil. Well, the big players stepped forward, didn't they? Weston McKennie starts off lovely bit of play, fires it out towards Pulisic, and then he shows his class and his sharpness, darting between two players. And then you think McKennie's going to shoot. Tries to pass it to Balogun. And there's not a lot that Bobadilla can do. Balogun can't find the target there. These are the sort of areas that Enciso will look to try and excel. Here's Ream. Robinson is wide, offering the width. Steps inside to good effect, Antonee Robinson. And this scores finally for the USA. And Paraguay are stretched. And there's an important interception there. The door was almost open to a second. Well, it was desperate defending in the end. Once again, that ball in towards Weston McKennie. Bit of a look. It's a big, big chance. Unselfish play by Balogun. This play by Balogun. Robinson with the corner. >> [cheering] >> Still work to do here for Paraguay. Back out with Robinson. Good early ball in. I think the referee has given a free kick against Richards. There was a heavy clash of heads there with Alderete. Both players are flat out here. Good run by Robinson to open up the space. Here's McKennie. And it's in! >> [cheering] >> Folarin Balogun! WELL, THE ASSISTANT'S FLAG is up. It looked a tight one. >> [cheering] >> Well, I just wonder whether it was Pulisic on that far side. Has he got flashed through? Yeah, I think he was just strayed. Didn't think he was involved in the play when it came through. Sure that might be what they're looking at. He was just offside. It's a shame because he took it well. And just hitting that forwards early. I think they've got technical players. They've got to believe in themselves a little bit more, I think. >> And they're stretched out on the right side of the defense again. SHOULD BE TWO. AND IT IS TWO. AND THIS TIME NO ONE IS GOING TO TAKE THE GOAL AWAY FROM FOLARIN BALOGUN. THE THRILL OF A LIFETIME FOR THIS POPULAR USA STRIKER, AND PARAGUAY ARE IN DEEP, DEEP TROUBLE. >> [cheering and applause] >> WELL, we wondered about USA's top players, and their top man, Pulisic. Oh, he's delivered. It's a brilliant run. It's a superb pass as well into his striker. What a moment for him. He'll always remember. >> [cheering] >> Oh, and they nearly did. It was Richards with the cutest of headers. And if that's inside the post, I'm not sure the goalkeeper Heel is getting that. >> [cheering] >> Here's Dest. Looks ideally suited to this more advanced role. He's a real threat. Support from McKennie. AND A SHOT IN! BLOCKED BY HEEL. Leonardo DiCaprio. You'll see many celebrities and stars in the city of stars, >> [cheering] >> Los Angeles. To draw, but they're UNDER PRESSURE. HUGE PRESSURE! >> [cheering] >> SENSATIONAL! Folarin Balogun with the most CONVINCING OF FINISHES. BALOGUN HELPS HIMSELF TO A second of the USA's third. And this [cheering] is just simple. Tillman is finds the gap between fullback and centerback. Alderete tries with the slide tackle. He has to make it because once Balogun gets into this position, he's calm. Oh, and he finds that top corner. He really does. When you're confident, these just come naturally, as you can see, curling into the top corner. Oh, it's lovely from Enciso. Now, can he provide another bit of trickery here to maybe go all the way himself? And the shot high and wide. Not the direction or the balance really in the strike. If they are to go far in this competition, then they might have to call upon that depth. Almirón doing well, and they've set themselves up nicely and score. AND IT'S THE SUBSTITUTE, MAURICIO, who celebrates. The first real incision from Paraguay in the entire game. Brings a smile to his face and to the Paraguay supporters inside the Los Angeles Stadium. 3-1. Well, it comes from the goalkeeper's free kick, but when it falls to Enciso, he's got a picture in his mind. He lays it to Mauricio. It's a perfect weighted pass. The referee's view to Mauricio, who then just firmly, crisply side foots that into the corner. Paraguay have gotten it horribly wrong here, AND THIS IS TILLMAN. [cheering] CAN'T FINISH. GLORIOUS CHANCE. Tillman Space opening up again. Flashes across goal. And very nearly troubled heel in the Paraguay goal. Here's McKennie. That's over the top. Well, they were getting ready to celebrate a fourth goal there, the USA fans. Yeah, brilliant take from McKennie. Freeman This IS REYNA. OH, [cheering] YES! GIO REYNA! >> [cheering] >> GOAL! HISTORY FOR THE USA! FOR THE FIRST TIME, THEY SCORE FOUR GOALS in a World Cup match. AND WHAT A CALM FINISH THIS WAS. TALK ABOUT putting the seal on the victory. This is one for the archives. The outside of the right foot, arcing away from heel. That is beautiful from Reyna. And the referee has brought the match to a conclusion. THEY SCORED IN THE FINAL KICK OF THE FIRST HALF. They've scored WITH THE FINAL KICK from Gio Reyna in the second half. And they have handsomely seen off Paraguay here in the opening match in Group D in Los Angeles. USA four, Paraguay one.