Four goals and an electric display: USMNT's World Cup opener was nearly perfect - ESPN

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — The United States men's national team had been waiting for the start of this FIFA World Cup for what seemed like an eternity. When the moment finally arrived, many wondered if they would meet it and give U.S. fans something worth celebrating.

They did indeed, earning a 4-1 victory over Paraguay in a World Cup opener that ticked nearly all of the boxes for the tournament co-hosts. Christian Pulisic was electric, having a hand in the first two U.S. goals before departing at halftime. The midfield trio of Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman and Weston McKennie was dominant for long stretches, full of slick combinations and touches going forward and providing relentless defensive pressure when asked to retreat. The much-maligned backline, which welcomed the return of center back Chris Richards, was solid for the most part, though it did concede Mauricio's 73rd-minute tally.

And then there was Folarin Balogun. The AS Monaco forward has long been viewed as the missing piece to this U.S. side since switching his allegiance from England in 2023. There have been moments, such as the 2023 Concacaf Nations League final win over Canada, when he has met those expectations. But the World Cup is a stage like no other, and Balogun delivered a spectacular performance with two impressive goals, the first showing total composure and the second the perfect combination of precision and power.

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— As it happened: Balogun, Reyna score as USMNT crushes Paraguay

How impressive was Balogun's performance? The last USMNT player to score more than one goal in a World Cup match occurred in 1930, when Bert