The United States Men’s National Team opened the 2026 World Cup with a 1-0 victory over Paraguay in front of a raucous crowd at SoFi Stadium. Christian Pulisic’s assist led to a first-half goal by Jordan Morris, and the U.S. defense held strong for a clean sheet in their first match as co-hosts.
Christian Pulisic, the team’s attacking catalyst, continued to deliver in a big stage, tallying one assist and creating five chances in the first half alone. The U.S. controlled possession early, with 58% of the ball in the opening 45 minutes and 13 total shots compared to Paraguay’s seven.
Jordan Morris, coming off the bench in last year’s Gold Cup final, started his first World Cup match and made an immediate impact. His 22nd-minute goal, assisted by Pulisic, put the U.S. in a commanding position. Morris took just two touches before slotting the ball past Paraguay’s goalkeeper, Sebastian Alvarez.
The U.S. defense, led by Walker Zimmerman and Matt Miazga, held firm under pressure. Paraguay had several chances in the second half, with striker Derlis González coming close in the 67th minute after a beautiful cutback. But U.S. goalkeeper Zack Steffen made two crucial saves in the final 20 minutes, including a diving stop on a 20-yard shot from Roque Santa Cruz.
Christian Pulisic recorded four key passes and completed 86% of his passes in a dominant performance. He was named U.S. Player of the Match for his vision and ability to unlock the Paraguay backline.
The U.S. now stands undefeated in their opening match and will look to build momentum in their next game. The win sets a strong tone for the World Cup as the team adjusts to the pace and intensity of international competition.
The match was broadcast live on Fox and Telemundo, with more than 18 million U.S. households tuned in for the opening night of the tournament. Attendance at SoFi Stadium was reported at 76,000, the largest for a U.S. World Cup opener since 1986.
The U.S. will face Mexico on June 17 in Kansas City for their second group stage match. The win gives them a crucial three points in a tough Group A that also includes Portugal and Ghana.
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