World Cup
USA crush Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles
The United States Men's National Team defeated Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles on Friday. Folarin Balogun scored two first‑half goals and Giovanni Reyna added a third. The win opens the 2026 World Cup for the United States.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino deployed a 3-4-2-1 system that shifted to a back four and five without the ball. His emphasis on attack produced an unstoppable first half, according to the match flow.
Balogun received a nine‑point rating, the highest of the night. Malik Tillman earned an eight, as did Christian Pulisic, who provided an assist and a hockey‑assist on the own goal. Giovanni Reyna was rated 7.5 for his substitute impact.
Matt Freese was given a six for limited involvement, while Alex Freeman earned a seven for balancing attack and defence. Chris Richards received a seven, confirming his ankle was fine. Tim Ream also scored seven for his leadership role.
Sergiño Dest and Antonee Robinson each earned seven‑point ratings, benefiting from the width of the new tactical setup. Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie each collected seven, with McKennie praised for timing his rotations. Sebastian Berhalter, Timothy Weah, and Ricardo Pepi all received mid‑range scores as substitutes.
The United States' dominant opening performance suggests a strong tournament trajectory, with the squad now looking ahead to their next World Cup fixture.