World Cup: US romps to dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay, Canada rescues draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina
Folarin Balogun scored twice in the first half against Paraguay. (Getty Images: John Dorton)
World Cup co-host USA has launched its campaign with a dominant 4-1 thrashing of Paraguay after Canada rescued a late draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto.
- Check out the full World Cup schedule here in Australian times
- ABC Sport podcast: A chaotic World Cup opener for a chaotic World Cup
Meanwhile Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will miss his side's opener after being denied entry to Canada, and anti-Israel protesters unfurled a banner in Toronto calling for FIFA to ban the country from international participation.
Submit a comment or question
Live updates
Recap
Catch up on the big news from the World Cup today:
- Tony Popovic says Socceroos are fit and firing for opening game
- Report: US turns on the style to dispatch Paraguay
- Report: Canada fights for draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Ghana's Thomas Partey denied entry to Canada
- Protestors unfurl anti-Israel banner at game in Toronto
- How far can the Socceroos go at this World Cup?
This is new. Let us know what you think.
New: Filters
Choose what information you see below by using filters
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 1:22pm
Farewell all!
Day 2 done and dusted.
An entertaining day of football, with some incredible goals and a massive statement from hosts the USA.
Make sure to come back in just over 24 hours when the Socceroos kick off their World Cup campaign.
Farewell for now and see you tomorrow.
Key Event
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 1:17pm
Match report: US up and running with historic 4-1 win over Paraguay
Folarin Balogun scored twice in the Americans' historic three-goal first half as the US opened its first home World Cup in 32 years with its biggest win in the tournament, a dynamic 4-1 victory over Paraguay.
Christian Pulisic had an assist in a stellar first-half playmaking performance for the Americans, who enthralled their Southern California fans with an aggressive attack while streaking to a 3-0 halftime lead — the team's largest in any World Cup game.
Gio Reyna ripped another goal in the dying moments of second-half injury time, giving the Americans four goals in a World Cup match for the first time.
The US scored only three goals combined in its four matches at the Qatar World Cup four years ago, and it had never scored more than three in a World Cup match.
But the Americans were a team transformed while playing in new coach Mauricio Pochettino's more creative system in front of a passionate, star-studded Los Angeles crowd of 70,492.
Maurício scored in the second half for Paraguay, but La Albirroja fell too far behind early in their first World Cup match in 16 years.
AP
Key Event
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 1:04pm
FT: USA run rampant in 4-1 win over Paraguay
Dominant from start to finish.
Minus the opening five minutes of the game where Paraguay looked dangerous.
The USA showed up and showed out, not fazed by the pressure of being the host and the expectations.
Interested to know where Paraguay go from here, that -3 goal difference could be a real problem if they want to make it out of the group.
Key Event
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 1:01pm
90'+ 7 GOAL USA
WHAT A GOAL!!
Gio Reyna, with maybe the goal of the match, uses the outside of his boot to curl his shot right into the back of the net.
It's the first time the USA have scored four at the World Cup and what a way to close out your opening group game.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 12:55pm
7 minutes added on
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 12:53pm
88' Missed chance Pepi
Weston McKennie, as he's done all game, keeps creating chances. He finds Ricardo Pepi in the middle of the box but Pepi can't keep his shot down and skies it over the bar.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 12:52pm
87' Alex Arce yellow card
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 12:51pm
substitutions
USA
OFF:
Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Malik Tilman
ON:
Timothy Weah, Sergino Dest, Giovanni Reyna
Paraguay:
OFF:
Miguel Almiron, Juan Caceres, Diego Gomez, Antonio Sanabria
ON:
Alex Arce, Gustavo Velázquez, Ramón Sosa, Alejandro Romero
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 12:44pm
74' USA chance
Just as Paraguay get their goal the USA waltz up the other end and almost instantly restores their three-goal buffer.
First, through Malik Tillman, who would want that chance back, a direct shot on goal, and he manages to hit it straight at the keeper.
Key Event
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 12:37pm
72' GOAL PARAGUAY
Substitute Marucio slots it beautifully inside the far post to keep the hope alive for Paraguay.
Long ball played forward with Paraguay able to win the first ball, Almiron able to lay it into the path off Enciso, who sees Marucio all by himself on the left-hand side who slots it into the net.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 12:33pm
Spot the celeb
It’s been quite entertaining gauging everyone’s reaction here in Dallas to the various celebrities that have been flashed on the big screen.
Here’s the summary:
- George Lucas — indifference
- Bill Gates — boos
- Gianni Infantino — louder boos
- Rob Lowe — indifference
- Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau — they took time to think about it but settled on boos
- Tom Cruise/David Beckham — mixture of jeers and cheers
- Paris Hilton — murmurs
Hope you enjoyed this ABC/TMZ update!
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 12:33pm
67' Ads! Ads! Ads!
Time for the obligatory third-quarter break, sorry, hydration break.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 12:28pm
61' Paraguay substitution
OFF: Antonio Sanabria
ON: Alex Arce
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 12:26pm
60' Tillman denied
Big challenge from Gustavo Gomez clatters into Malik Tillman just as he gets his shot away.
Some faint shouts of penalty, but the referee waves those claims away.
USA is continuing to build pressure.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 12:22pm
56' USA chance
Well worked from the USA to find Robinson on the left-hand side. His cross is slightly too deep, before the eventual shot is deflected away.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 12:18pm
50' VAR check mistaken identity
Referee Danny Makkelie sent to the VAR screen rescinds yellow card for Tim Ream and gives one to Miguel Almirón for simulation.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 12:14pm
48' Chance Paraguay
Diego Gomez with an excellent run on the right side … shot deflected away for Paraguay's first corner.
Paraguay works the corner to the left before the USA eventually clears the danger.
Paraguay have started with more intensity in the second half.
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 12:13pm
Celebrating every goal as if it’s the first


Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 12:12pm
46' Half time subs
USA:
Christian Pulisic off Sebastian Berhalter on
Paraguay:
Damián Bobadilla off Maurício on
Key Event
Sat 13 Jun 2026 at 12:09pm
46' Back for the second half
Paraguay get us going for the second half.
Plenty to do for the South Americans, can't get much worse than the opening 45.
