 |
VOOZH | about |
|
VOOZH | about |
USA vs Paraguay FIFA World Cup 2026 HIGHLIGHTS: Co-hosts USA have got off to a strong start in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. While it was an own goal that gave them the lead in the seventh minute, captain Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie, two of their biggest stars, combined to make it happen.
Katy Perry and Future earlier got the party started in the USA as the third and final opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup was held at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. At the previous two Opening Ceremonies, held in Mexico City and Toronto, stars like Shakira, Michael Buble, Vegedream and Nora Fatehi have performed.
The last time USA hosted a FIFA World Cup was 32 years back. USA have faced off against Paraguay multiple times in the past, most recently in November where Mauricio Pochettino’s men secured a 2-1 victory in Chester, Pennsylvania. But the earliest ocassion the two nations met on the pitch in a World Cup was back in 1930, when the USA had won 3-0. Paraguay are making their first World Cup appearance since the 2010 FIFA World Cup that was hosted by South Africa.
Scroll down for highlights from USA vs Paraguay FIFA World Cup 2026 match:
👁 Image
The biggest anticlimax for co-hosts USA's first game against Paraguay is the absence of its president Donald Trump. (AP)
The biggest anticlimax for co-hosts USA’s first game against Paraguay is the absence of its president Donald Trump. A central character in the country’s successful World Cup bid, the overbearing cynosure in the draw ceremony and the most ubiquitous headline stealer in the prelude to the tournament, he would be in Washington DC to attend walk-throughs of the weekend’s UFC event. Instead, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend the game.
But home support is expected to be tremendous—nearly 65,000 home supporters are projected to heave in the SoFI Stands in California. Usually, outnumbered by the adversary’s crowd even on home soil, American fans have flocked to watch their practice games as well as warm-up in the Irvine, about 50 miles north of the Inglewood Stadium before the Paraguay game. Nearly 33,000 applied for access to watch them train, and 5,500 procured it. “[The] environment was crazy. It’s more than we expect,” coach Mauricio Pochettino said. “We are so grateful.”
That's the last action.
That stunning piece for skill from Reyna is the last bit of action as USA wrap up their FIFA WC with a dominating win over Paraguay.
FIFA World Cup 2026 USA v Paraguay: Reyna makes it 4-1
A stunning goal towards the last moments of the game. Reyna produces a perfect trivela to make it 4-1 for the hosts as the crowd goes crazy.
FIFA World Cup 2026 USA v Paraguay: Pepi blasts it high
Pepi blasts it wide. The striker had a golden chance after Ream played it to McKennie who set it up for him but he blasts his shot very high and appeals for a corner kick, but replay shows it’s unlikely that anyone deflected it.
FIFA World Cup 2026 USA v Paraguay: Is the first goal too late for Paraguay?
A breakdown in the US defense, and Maurício makes no mistake with his finish from 15 yards. Paraguay has been more active since the goal but is it too late for them?
FIFA World Cup 2026 USA v Paraguay: Another chance for the US
Balogun races with the ball into space. His best options are to shoot or pass to Tillman. He opts instead to center the ball for the onrushing Berhalter, but Paraguay’s defense is there. Possibly the only thing Balogun has done wrong aside from drifting offside early in the game.
FIFA World Cup 2026 USA v Paraguay: USA leads 3-0
At the stroke of half time, Florian Balogun makes it 3-0 after Tillman supplied him a brilliant ball from midfield. A brace for Balogun as of now.
FIFA World Cup 2026 USA v Paraguay: Balogun makes it 2-0
This time it would count. It's another sweeping move from the home team and Balogun is found in the middle who buries it past the Paraguyan goal keeper. The crowd surely enjoyed the goal as the hosts lead 2-0.
FIFA World Cup 2026 USA v Paraguay: It's offside!
As clock hit 30, Florin Balogun almost doubled the advantage but he was flagged off side.
FIFA World Cup 2026 USA v Paraguay: The hosts have been relentless m
After the goal, the hosts are attacking relentlessly with three more clear chances in the penalty stadium.
FIFA World Cup 2026 USA v Paraguay: USA in front!
It's an own goal but the hosts are leading 1-0 as Bobadilla turns one in his own net. A superb start for the hosts, who have been on their heels since the start.
FIFA World Cup 2026 USA v Paraguay: Enisco starts for Paraguay
Goalkeeper: Orlando Gill
Defense: Junior Alonso, Gustavo Gomez (captain), Omar Aldarete, Juan Jose Caceres
Midfield: Diego Gomez, Miguel Almiron, Andres Cubas, Damian Bobadilla
Forward: Antonio Sanabria, Julio Enciso
FIFA World Cup 2026 USA v Paraguay: Huge welcome for home team
A loud ovation at Los Angeles Stadium as the US trot out in all-white for their warmups. First the starters, working on their three-yard passes. The substitutes have yet to take the field.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony Live Updates:Future and Tyla perform "Game Time"
Future started the song by rapping in a sparkly red and silver jacket. Tyla then appeared on the side of the stage to join for her part of the song. She was wearing a white crop top shirt with blue and white stars on the sleeves and blue sweatpants. She did some choreography with a pair of dancers. They then joined forces on the stage to finish the song.
Pochettino's message to his team: Relax
“I was talking with a good friend that won the World Cup in 1986 with Argentina,” said Mauricio Pochettino yesterday. “He said to me, ‘in relaxation, you become concentrated and focused.’ I think we try to be very professional in every single aspect of our preparation by creating a very good atmosphere where the player can feel comfortable and to embrace and, not to learn, but to understand what we expect”
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony Live Updates: No hollywood like talk from coach.
There will be no rousing Hollywood pep talk from Mauricio Pochettino ahead of today’s USMNT World Cup opener. He and his players are trusting nearly two years of work since he took the helm – plus all of the reasons that got them into the sport in the first place.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony Live Updates: All eyes on Pulisic
Team USA, one of the co-hosts of the FIFA World Cup, are relying heavily on talisman Christian Pulisic to deliver them the goods at this edition. The 27-year-old has been the posterboy for USA Football for over a decade now. He's been the anointed one for the Stars and Stripes since he, as a 17-year-old, made his senior U.S. debut in late 2016.
But despite the scrutiny on him, he's nonchalant about the pressure that he's under. He only ended an 18-month goal drought in a U.S. shirt on May 31.
“I don’t feel a difference in weight,” Pulisic said at the U.S. training base in Orange County. “I’m not sure. Maybe less. I just feel like there’s so many good players around me. I genuinely don’t feel like I have to do anything on my own. I’m going to give it the best I can. I want to help the team, and they expect a lot out of me, but with the guys I have around me, it makes it a lot easier for me.”
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony Live Updates: USA fans getting in the mood
The American fans, led by supporter groups such as American Outlaws, are out in full force. Reports suggest that fans have been out on the street hours before the actual kick-off. The atmosphere near Inglewood is electric!
FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony Live Updates: What's at stake for USA
The Americans — who enter the tournament ranked 17th by FIFA — hope that matches on their home soil can lead to a World Cup breakthrough. The U.S. has advanced to the knockout round in four of the last six World Cups it has played, but hasn't been able to get past the quarterfinals. Coach Mauricio Pochettino was hired in 2024 after successful stints at several European clubs. It's a big tournament for forward Christian Pulisic, who enters this World Cup in his prime and with high expectations.
The Americans' first opponent, Paraguay, is the lowest-ranked team in Group D at No. 47 and back in the World Cup for the first time in 16 years. Ramon Sosa and Julio Enciso are among the team's best players.
(Via Associated Press)
HOLA
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the third Opening Ceremony of the FIFA World Cup 2026. This one will feature Katy Perry. After the ceremony, Team USA will take on Paraguay at the Los Angeles Stadium.