INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Mauricio Pochettino’s tenure as U.S. men’s national team head coach began with a emphatic statement on Friday, as the Americans defeated Paraguay 4-1 in their 2026 FIFA World Cup opener at SoFi Stadium.
Dominant Debut
The victory marked the highest-scoring World Cup performance in U.S. men’s history. Forward Folarin Balogun became the first American male player since 1930 to score multiple goals in a single World Cup match. The U.S. led 3-0 by halftime, a performance analyst Alexi Lalas described as "the greatest half of group play from a men’s team at a World Cup in history."
The U.S. scoring was rounded out by an own-goal from Paraguay’s Damian Bobadilla and a late, skillful trivela strike from Gio Reyna. The win sets a strong tone for the host nation as they pursue a deep run in the tournament.
The Pochettino Effect
Pochettino, 54, emphasized that the convincing win was a direct result of the extended preparation time afforded by the World Cup schedule. Unlike the fragmented windows of the international calendar, the team spent weeks training together before the tournament.
"We know very well that if you have the possibility to work three, four weeks with a whole group... these type of things can happen," Pochettino said following the match. "When you only have a few days to reunite and to play, you only select players, but you cannot coach. Only in this type of tournament... can we coach."
Setting a Tone
Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro, whose team had previously boasted one of the tournament's most resilient defenses, acknowledged the tactical superiority of the U.S. side. "This is a team that is complex because they have answers to every element you throw at them," Alfaro said.
Despite the result, Pochettino maintained a measured perspective, noting that this was only the first of three group-stage fixtures. However, he reaffirmed the ambition he previously expressed in conversations with U.S. leadership, including President Donald Trump, regarding the team’s potential to lift the trophy.
