USMNT breaks through with emphatic 4-1 win over Paraguay in World Cup opener

USMNT delivered a home World Cup statement in Inglewood, Calif., cruising to a 4-1 victory over Paraguay before 70,492 at SoFi Stadium. It marked the Americans' first home World Cup in 32 years, and they opened with early aggression that yielded a first-half three-goal lead. Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun and Weston McKennie spearheaded the onslaught, with Balogun becoming the first U.S. player to score multiple World Cup goals since 1930. Pulisic, the team's figurehead, provided the catalyst before departing at halftime with a sore right calf, a development that will be reassessed next week.