USA Triumph Over Paraguay
The United States opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign in emphatic fashion, defeating Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles. Former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun was the standout performer, netting twice to help the hosts secure a memorable win.
The breakthrough came just seven minutes in when Paraguay’s Damian Bobadilla turned a Weston McKennie cutback into his own net after a slick move by Christian Pulisic. Balogun thought he had doubled the lead shortly after, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
Three minutes later, Balogun corrected the mistake, finishing from a Pulisic pass to put the USA firmly in control. Before halftime, he added a second goal, latching onto a through ball from Malik Tillman, shrugging off Omar Alderete, and curling a fine finish into the top corner.
Paraguay threatened a comeback early in the second half when Brazilian‑born Mauricio scored after a Julio Enciso assist. However, any hopes of a revival were ended with the final kick of the match, as substitute Giovanni Reyna unleashed a stunning 20‑yard effort with the outside of his right foot to seal the victory.
Balogun’s brace made him only the second American player to score more than once in a World Cup match, following Bert Patenaude’s feat in the inaugural 1930 tournament. The result also matched the United States’ biggest‑ever World Cup victory margin.
Canada Holds Bosnia to Historic Draw
In Toronto, Canada avoided defeat for the first time in World Cup history, fighting back to earn a 1-1 draw against Bosnia‑Herzegovina. The equaliser secured the nation’s first ever point at the tournament, ending a losing streak that stretched back to 1986 and 2022.
Bosnia struck first in the 21st minute when Jovo Lukic headed home his inaugural international goal after Sead Kolasinac flicked on Ivan Basic’s corner. Canada pressed for a response and came close shortly after the restart, but Kolasinac produced a superb goal‑line intervention to deny Richie Laryea.
The Canadians continued to press and were denied again when Nikola Katic cleared Tani Oluwaseyi’s header off the line. Their persistence finally paid off in the 78th minute: substitute Cyle Larin, who had been on the pitch for just over two minutes, spun away from Tarik Muharemovic and fired beyond Nikola Vasilj, with a slight deflection helping the ball into the net.
The equaliser ensured Canada claimed its first‑ever World Cup point, marking a significant milestone for the program and setting a positive tone for the remainder of the group stage.
About the Author
