00:00So to the USA lineup, Matt Friese of New York City FC is in goal, Tim Ream becomes the oldest
00:07ever USA player at the World Cup, 38 years, 250 days old, strong presence in midfield, Tyler Adams and Western
00:16McKinney, Christian Kulisic, can he deliver the man they call Captain America, and Florian Balogun who had an excellent second
00:25half of the season with his French club Monaco.
00:31Orlando Hill in goal for Paraguay, their team built on a solid defence, the strength of Captain Gustavo Gomez and
00:39Omar Alderete, they have energy in midfield as well to protect that back line, and when seeking creativity, they will
00:47look to the likes of Diego Gomez, Julio Nciso, and their top scorer in qualifying with four goals, Antonio Sanabria,
00:554-4-2 for coach Gustavo Alfaro.
01:09The world of football has come to the nation of soccer, and the FIFA World Cup 2026 co-host the
01:17USA face-off against Paraguay in the first match in Group D.
01:32Two different formations, now we're likely to see two different styles, very much so, as you talked about, those systems
01:44are very different.
01:47This is nicely worked by the USA, trying to stretch the Paraguay back line, and they've certainly done that.
01:55It's a big chance! It's an own goal!
02:06Looked like it came off Damian Bobadier, but the USA hit the front.
02:14It was a dynamic attack, he'd had Minis, but it needed a Paraguay boot to turn it past the stranded
02:24goalkeeper in Orlando Hill.
02:32Well, the big players stepped forwards, didn't they?
02:35Weston McKennie starts it off, lovely bit of play, fires it out towards Pulisic, and then he shows his class
02:42and his sharpness, darting between two players.
02:45And then you think McKennie's going to...
02:46Bobadier again, who has to get the ball away smartly once more.
02:52Estaba Gomez, in four, in CISO.
02:58Adams to...
02:58Robinson.
03:02And I think they're a little bit better than that, Paraguay, than just...
03:06hitting that forwards early, I think they've got technical players.
03:10They've got to...
03:11believe in themselves a little bit more, I think.
03:16And a stretch down the right side of the defence, again, should be two!
03:21And it is two!
03:24And this time, no one is going to take the goal away from Thorin Balogun.
03:33The thrill of a lifetime for this popular USA striker, and Paraguay are in deep, deep trouble.
03:50Well, we wondered about USA's top players, and their top man, Pulisic.
03:56Oh, he's delivered.
03:57It's a brilliant run.
03:59It's a superb pass, as well, into his striker.
04:02You can just see the calmness, the composure from Balogun, making sure, making absolutely sure with that side foot, keeping
04:12it low.
04:12Past Alderete.
04:15And he'll...
04:16in the goal.
04:18What a moment for him.
04:20He'll always remember.
04:28There's that ball again.
04:30They...
04:31had so much...
04:32good fortune from...
04:35test.
04:45But the measure of Paraguay's quality was shown in qualifying.
04:51Included a 1-0 win against Brazil, 2-1 against Argentina, 2-0 against Uruguay that came from behind.
04:58And twice at extreme altitude against Bolivia to draw.
05:03But they're under pressure.
05:04Huge pressure!
05:16Sensational!
05:18Baller in Balogun!
05:21With the most convincing of finishes.
05:40And the Paraguay fans.
05:43Crestfallen.
05:45Players looking around, shell-shocked.
05:48Balogun helps himself to a second.
05:51And the USA's third.
05:52And this is...
05:53Had a good start to the second half here.
05:56And Cissos free kick.
06:06Referees wrestling evidence here.
06:12Being told to stop the game, Danny McAley.
06:14Carlos Del Cerro Grande, the head of VAR, the Spaniard, is having a check over mistaken identity.
06:31Over an earlier decision.
06:33Just explaining to Tim Ream and Almiron about that tussle that they had.
06:48And the referee is coming to...
06:52Towards the touchline here.
06:55And his review area.
06:58To have a look at this one again.
07:04Well, you said at the time that there wasn't a great deal of contact, if any, on Almiron.
07:17Went down in stages, didn't he?
07:27He's got a yellow card, yes.
07:33They are to go far in this competition.
07:36And we might have to call upon that depth.
07:40Almiron doing well.
07:41And they've set themselves up nicely and scored.
07:50And it's the substitute, Maricio, who celebrates the first real incision.
08:03From Paraguay in the entire game.
08:06Brings a smile to his face and to the Paraguay supporters inside the Los Angeles Stadium.
08:123-1.
08:13Well, it comes from the goalkeeper's free kick.
08:16But when it falls to Enciso, he's got a pitcher in his mind.
08:20He lays it to Mauricio.
08:22Space opening up again.
08:25Flashes across.
08:27Goal.
08:28And very nearly troubled heel in the Paraguay goal.
08:33With just a couple of extra touches.
08:36Chios gives him the space away from Alonso to get that strike.
08:40Of which he does.
08:42Pepe.
08:46Freeman.
08:51This is Reyna.
08:54Oh, yes!
08:56Gio Reyna!
09:11History for the USA.
09:14For the first time, they score four goals in a World Cup match.
09:19And what a calm finish this was.
09:22Talk about putting the seal on the victory.
09:24This is one for the archives.
09:27The outside of the right foot.
09:30Arcing away from heel.
09:34That is beautiful from Reyna.
09:38of crank a little vest.
09:40I don't think it has got to be expensive.
09:40To take that one side down.
09:40Come look at the PR outfit.
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