USA kick off World Cup 2026 campaign
The United States commenced their World Cup 2026 journey with an opening match against Paraguay in Los Angeles. The fixture followed a spectacular opening ceremony featuring performances by Katy Perry and Future at the SoFi Stadium. This event marked the third and final opening ceremony for the tournament, with previous celebrations held in Mexico City and ahead of Canada‘s first match.
The USA, under the management of former Tottenham and Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, are anticipated to progress from their group, which includes Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey. The team aims to advance further in the competition.
During the match, the USA maintained possession deep in Paraguay‘s half at various points. However, Paraguay also had periods of possession, with one instance ending due to an intervention by Pepi. Tillman was noted for drawing a foul, resulting in a yellow card for Gustavo Gómez.
Match incidents and player changes
Several substitutions occurred during the game. For the USA, Gio Reyna, who was involved in controversy during the previous World Cup, replaced Tillman in the 81st minute. Earlier in the match, Balogun was substituted out. Paraguay made multiple changes, with Almiron and Caceres being replaced by Sosa and Gustavo Velazquez. Gamarra also came on for Gomez, and Alex Arce replaced Antonio Sanabria.
The match saw a notable VAR check involving Almiron and Ream. After Almiron slipped past Ream, the US captain slid and missed the ball, also missing Almiron, who then fell down. Initially, Ream received a yellow card. However, following a VAR review, the yellow card for Ream was rescinded, and Almiron was instead shown a yellow card for simulation.
There were moments of concern for the USA team, particularly regarding Pulisic. While some suggested he should be rested for the remainder of the match to prevent injury, it was also noted that Paraguay had been challenged by his on-ball initiative. McKennie made several good touches but also a bad one, though Adams broke up Paraguay‘s subsequent play and was fouled.
Performance and expectations
The performance of Paraguay in the match was described as not indicative of a competent World Cup team, with their defenders appearing lost and midfielders struggling to complete passes. This assessment suggests a significant challenge for the Paraguayan side in the tournament.
For the USA, the match highlighted the presence of a legitimate striker in Balogun, whose ability to convert chances was seen as a significant asset. One observer noted that having such a player transforms a game from a dominant but low-scoring affair to a more decisive victory. Balogun had an opportunity where he raced with the ball into space, but his attempt to center it for Berhalter was intercepted by Paraguay‘s defence.
The USA has a history of winning a World Cup group, having done so in 2010. That achievement was marked by a memorable goal sequence involving Tim Howard, Landon Donovan, and Clint Dempsey, culminating in Donovan‘s rebound goal. Despite the current match being only one of six, the team is considered capable of playing at varying levels of performance.
The opening ceremony itself was a significant event, with Katy Perry headlining the show in California. Other performers included Shakira in Mexico City and Michael Buble and Alanis Morissette before Canada‘s first match. Notably, President Donald Trump was absent from the SoFi Stadium, ahead of his 80th birthday celebrations in Washington this weekend. The tournament has also seen some controversial aspects, including empty seats and mandatory drinks breaks.
Viewers in the UK could watch the game for free on BBC One or stream it live on BBC iPlayer. In the US, the game was available on FOX and Tubi, with a Spanish-language broadcast on Telemundo.
The USA‘s opening ceremony was the third and final one, with expectations that it would surpass those held in Canada and Mexico.
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Source: theguardian.com
