NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
There’s no way around it: The United States men’s national team dominated in the first half against Paraguay in its 2026 FIFA World Cup opener, en route to a 4-1 victory.
The United States took a 3-0 lead in Friday’s Group D opener, thanks to striker Folarin Balogun scoring a brace to give the Americans a commanding lead. And even though the United States’ first goal was a Paraguayan own goal, that didn’t stop FOX Sports soccer analyst Alexi Lalas from capping the 45 minutes of play as one of the best in the federation’s World Cup history.
“I think this is the best half of a men’s team at a World Cup in history,” Lalas said at half-time. “Everything went well, total domination from top to bottom.”
The United States could have led 4-0 in the first half. Balogun scooped a ball into the back of the net after the United States took a 1-0 lead, but the goal was erased for offside. Soon after, Balogun made up for it by scoring from a Christian Pulisic cross before creating an opportunity and scoring header to give the United States a 3-0 lead.
While Balogun scored twice, Pulisic also stood out in the first half. Pulisic was credited with the assist on the own goal, giving him two assists in the first half before being substituted at halftime.
“Christian Pulisic was everywhere on the left side, creating opportunities,” Lalas said. “You’re lucky. I know it’s an own goal, but it put [Paraguay] in a dangerous situation. »
In the first half, the United States outshot Paraguay 7-2. It also had more shots on goal than Paraguay (4-1) and dominated possession, controlling the ball for 71% of the first 45 minutes.
So, was the first half the best the United States has ever had at a World Cup? Here’s a look at America’s historic dominance in the first half in terms of numbers.
2: Balogun is the second American to score two goals in the first half of a World Cup match, and the first since 1930 (Bert Patenaude). Patenaude scored a hat-trick in this match in 1930, and it also came against Paraguay; he is the only American to score a hat-trick in a World Cup match.
1: This was Balogun’s first appearance in the World Cup, meaning it is the first time he has scored in the World Cup.
96: This was Balogun’s first career multi-goal game for the United States; he is the first American to score multiple goals in a World Cup match since Patenaude in 1930.
3: Christian Pulisic now has three career World Cup assists, the most of any American (two in 2022, one Friday); he joins Tab Ramos and Graham Zusi as the only American men to dish out assists in multiple World Cups.
38: This is the first time the United States has led by three goals after the first half of a men’s World Cup match in 38 World Cup matches.
24: It’s the first time the United States has had a multi-goal lead after the first half of a men’s World Cup match in 24 years. They led 2-0 in the first half of their group match against Portugal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
