The United States opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on June 12 — a statement performance that featured an early own goal, two finishes from Folarin Balogun, and a stoppage-time header from substitute Giovanni Reyna. The result, combined with Mexico's 2-0 win over South Africa 24 hours earlier, leaves both co-hosts top of their respective World Cup groups and gives the tournament its strongest possible opening to a 48-team field.
Match Facts
| Final score | USA 4-1 Paraguay |
| Venue | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood — June 12, 2026 (9:00 PM ET kickoff) |
| USA goals | Damián Bobadilla 7' (OG), Folarin Balogun 31' & 45'+5', Giovanni Reyna 90'+8' |
| Paraguay goal | Maurício 73' |
| Group | Group D |
| Attendance | ~70,000 (SoFi capacity) |
| Coach (USA) | Mauricio Pochettino |
How the Match Played Out
The USA struck inside seven minutes. A loose ball in the Paraguayan box ricocheted off defender Damián Bobadilla and into the net. Balogun doubled the lead in the 31st minute with a clinical finish from a Weston McKennie through ball — the forward's first World Cup goal — and added a second in the fifth minute of first-half stoppage time, capping a sweeping counter-attack. Paraguay pulled one back through Maurício in the 73rd, but Reyna's late header, assisted by Christian Pulisic, sealed the result. The performance was the most convincing USA men's team display in a World Cup opener in the modern era.
The LA Ceremony: Pop Star Power, Empty Seats
The pre-match ceremony at SoFi Stadium featured Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, BLACKPINK's LISA, Rema, and Tyla, with Dan + Shay singing the US national anthem and Purahei Soul performing Paraguay's. Ted Lasso star Jason Sudeikis appeared as a 2026 World Cup ambassador. Despite the star power, NBC Sports reported on June 12 that FIFA had roughly 350 unsold tickets in primary inventory, with another 2,500 on the secondary market — cheapest price around $1,129. The empty-seat narrative was amplified by the Trump-Infantino "FIFA horror" framing in some Indian coverage.
What's Next in Group D
The USA's next group match is against an Asian opponent. Paraguay plays its second group match within four days. The Group D table will settle in the third matchday when the co-hosts face the strongest remaining opponent in their bracket — a result that will likely determine whether the USA finishes first or second in the group. As a co-host, the USMNT has never advanced past the round of 16 in any World Cup since 1930.
What This Means for India
Sony Sports Network is the exclusive broadcaster for the 2026 World Cup in India and the subcontinent. The 48-team format brings marquee matches like USA-Paraguay directly to Indian prime-time viewership — kickoff was 6:30 AM IST on June 13. Sony has projected cumulative Indian viewership at 200 million+ across the group stage. The expanded format — 12 groups of 4, with 8 of the 12 third-placed teams advancing — also means more knockout games than ever, and therefore more advertising inventory. For Sony, the tournament is the year's single biggest viewership event ahead of the Asia Cup and the IPL. For Indian football fans, the country remains outside the 48-team field, but the Indian Super League continues to chase FIFA recognition for a longer-term path to qualification.
Sources: ESPN match report, USA Today, FIFA.com, NBC Sports, TODAY.com
See also: World Cup Day 4 Preview: Germany Begins Campaign vs Curaçao, · World Cup Day 3: Brazil Held 1-1 by Morocco, Qatar 95th-Minu
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