NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
There’s no way around it: The US men’s national team dominated in the first half against Paraguay in their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on their way to a 4-1 victory.
The United States took a 3-0 lead in Friday’s first Group D match, with a brace from forward Folarin Balogun giving the Americans a commanding lead. And although the United States’ first goal was an own goal by Paraguay, that did not stop FOX Sports soccer analyst Alexi Lalas from crowning the 45 minutes of play among the federation’s best in the World Cup.
“I think it’s the best half of pool play by a men’s team in a World Cup in history,” Lalas said at halftime. “Everything went well, complete dominance from top to bottom.”
In fact, the United States could have taken a 4-0 lead in the first half. Balogun put a ball in the back of the net after the United States took a 1-0 lead, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Not long after, Balogun made up for it, scoring off Christian Pulisic’s cross before creating a chance for himself and scoring top-notch to put the United States up 3-0.
Balogun scored twice and Pulisic also stood out in the first half. Pulisic was credited with assisting on an 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 make your luck. 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. They 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 half in U.S. history at a World Cup? Here’s a look at how historically dominant the first half of America was 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 that 1930 match, and it was also against Paraguay; He is the only American to have a hat-trick in a World Cup match.
1: This was Balogun’s first appearance in a World Cup, meaning it is the first time he has scored in a World Cup.
96: This was the first multi-goal game of Balogun’s career 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 assists in his World Cup career, the most by any American (two in 2022, on a Friday); He joins Tab Ramos and Graham Zusi as the only American men with assists in multiple World Cups.
38: This is the first time the United States has held a three-goal lead after the first half of a men’s World Cup match in 38 World Cup matches.
24: This is the first time in 24 years that the United States has a multi-goal lead after the first half of a men’s World Cup match. They held a 2-0 lead in the first half of their group match against Portugal at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
