Folarin Balogun Scores a Brace for USA in 2026 World Cup Opener. Team USA made a confident start at the World Cup, beating Paraguay 4–1. Folarin Balogun scored twice and made history for the squad. The Americans' next match is against Australia.
In California, the US national team kicked off the World Cup with a convincing 4-1 victory over Paraguay. The main hero of the match was forward Folarin Balogun, who scored twice before halftime, becoming the first American since 1930 to net a brace in a World Cup match.
The score was opened by an own goal from Paraguayan Damian Bobadilla, after which Balogun converted two chances: first, capitalizing on a lucky rebound after a pass from Christian Pulisic, and then, in stoppage time of the first half, broke through the defense and sent the ball into the top corner. Paraguay managed to respond with a single goal in the 73rd minute, but Gio Reyna put the finishing touch in added time.
After the final whistle, Balogun admitted he didn't immediately grasp the magnitude of what had happened, noting the fans' support and the importance of his choice to represent the US national team. Pulisic, the team captain, highlighted not only the striker's scoring but also his effort battling the opposing defenders.
Balogun's path to the US national team was not easy: born in New York to Nigerian parents, he grew up in England and played for the country’s youth teams before officially switching his football nationality in 2023. His decision was supported by American fans, and now the forward says he is doing his best to meet their expectations.
The match in Inglewood was not only a successful start for the USA, but also a reason to discuss the team’s prospects in the tournament. As russpain.com notes, the Americans confidently controlled the course of the game and demonstrated a high level of attacking teamwork, which allowed them to take the lead in Group D. In the parallel match, Canada earned its first point at the World Cup, adding intrigue to the battle for advancement from the group.
The next match for the US team will be against Australia in Seattle, and they will finish the group stage with a game against Turkey at SoFi Stadium. For Balogun, this tournament has already become special: he had previously made his mark in the CONCACAF Nations League final, but a brace at the World Cup is a new milestone in his career. Such achievements are rare in American soccer history: the last time a US national team player managed something similar was nearly a hundred years ago.
The 2026 World Cup is taking place in several countries at once, with the USA serving as one of the tournament hosts. Group stage matches are being held at the country’s largest venues, including SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, where the match against Paraguay was played. The tournament has attracted attention not only from fans, but also from experts: the performance of the US team is being closely watched in Europe and Latin America, given the growing interest in soccer in the USA and its possible impact on the transfer market.
