00:05After a 16-year absence and the co-hosts and their opponents today are joined in Group D
00:11by Australia and Turkiere. Wherever you are in the world, welcome to football's grandest stage.
00:22The world of football has come to the nation of soccer and the FIFA World Cup 2026 co-hosts the
00:31USA face-off against Paraguay in the first match in Group D.
00:36Paraguay backline and they've certainly done that. It's a big chance! It's an own goal!
00:51Looked like it came off Damian, Bobadier.
00:54Well, the big players stepped forwards, didn't they? Weston McKennie starts it off, lovely bit of play, fires it out
01:02towards Pulisic and then he shows his class and his sharpness darting between two players.
01:07And then you think McKennie's going to shoot, tries to pass it to Balogun and there's not a lot that
01:14Bobadier can do.
01:16He's trying to get back and help his team, comes across, he just sticks out a right foot.
01:23Brilliant to open things up.
01:29Going to be a yellow card here.
01:40Caceres with the late challenge, but the referee had a good view of it.
01:45Too quick, too sharp, Pulisic.
01:50Caceres pokes it through his legs, takes down Pulisic.
01:57And, of course, he's got a long time now.
02:00Ream and Richards, forward from the back.
02:05Trying to work something, perhaps, off the training ground and...
02:08It doesn't really fox Paraguay, but...
02:12Freeman's made a good run here.
02:14That was an important header.
02:17Steps inside to good effect, Anthony Robinson.
02:19And this falls kindly for the USA.
02:22And Paraguay has stretched.
02:25And there was an important interception there.
02:28The door was almost open to a second.
02:31Once again, that ball in towards Weston McKennie.
02:34Bit of luck.
02:34Balogun.
02:35I thought he was going to take the strike on.
02:36He doesn't.
02:37He plays it to Dest.
02:38Such a poor first touch.
02:41From Sir Gio Dest.
02:43Right back.
02:46Playing as more advanced player in Pochettino's setup.
02:51And it's a good partnership he's actually got with Freeman down the USA right.
02:55That's been evident in the build-up to this competition.
02:59Yeah, similar with Robinson.
03:01What brilliant play that was again.
03:04One of those little passes between the lines, aren't they?
03:10Some of this one-touch football and quick movement.
03:13He's very much keeping the Paraguayans on their toes.
03:19Absolutely.
03:20And Tillman, Adams, McKennie.
03:26Good run by Robinson to open up the space.
03:30Here's McKennie.
03:33It's in.
03:40Four in Balogun.
03:45The assistance flag is up.
03:48It looked a tight one.
03:50When it came through.
03:52Sure that might be what they're looking at.
03:55Or even Balogun as well.
03:56As Tyler Adams just...
03:59Passed it through to him.
04:01Leaving themselves a little bit more, I think.
04:05And a stretch down the right side of the defence.
04:08Once again, it should be two.
04:11And it is two.
04:14And this time...
04:15No one is going to take the goal away from Faller in Balogun.
04:23The thrill of a lifetime for this popular USA striker.
04:29And Paraguay are in deep, deep trouble.
04:34Well, we wondered about USA's top players and their top man Pulisic.
04:40Oh, he's delivered.
04:42It's a brilliant run.
04:43It's a superb pass as well into his striker.
04:47And you can just see the calmness, the composure from Balogun.
04:51Making sure.
04:53Making absolutely sure with that side foot.
04:56Keeping it low.
04:57Cube against Bolivia.
04:59To draw.
05:00But they're under pressure.
05:01Huge pressure!
05:18And this is just simple.
05:24Tillman is...
05:25Finds the gap between full-back and centre-back.
05:29Alderete tries with the slide tackle.
05:33He has to make it.
05:34Because once Balogun gets into this position, he's calm.
05:37Oh, and he finds that top corner.
05:40He really does.
05:42When you're confident, these just come naturally.
05:44As you can see, curling into the top corner.
05:48With a wonderful first-half performance.
05:50Two for Balogun.
05:51Bobadier's early on goal.
05:533-0 Paraguay at the break.
06:00Al Miron.
06:03Goes down under the challenge.
06:06The assistant referee for a moment just hesitated before raising the flag.
06:12The referee looked to his colleague.
06:16And the yellow card is flourished.
06:19Del Cerro Grande, the head of VAR, the Spaniard.
06:24Is having a check over mistaken identity.
06:32Well, you said at the time that there wasn't a great deal of contact, if any, on Al Miron.
06:42And it's simulation.
06:49And the yellow card goes to Miguel Al Miron.
06:53Tim Ream's yellow card is wiped away.
06:58Al Miron gets the booking.
07:02Clearly, the referee and the officials didn't want the advantage of the possibility.
07:09Free kick.
07:12Anthony Robinson's corner.
07:30Goal card issued here.
07:35I think they are to go far in this competition.
07:38We might have to call upon that depth.
07:42Al Miron doing well.
07:43And they've set themselves up nicely and scored.
07:52And it's the substitute, Maurizio, who celebrates the first real incision inside the Los Angeles Stadium.
08:053-1.
08:06Well, it comes from the goalkeepers.
08:08Free kick.
08:09But when it falls to Enciso, he's got a picture in his mind.
08:12He lays it to Maurizio.
08:15It's a perfect weighted pass.
08:18Referee's view to Maurizio, who then just firmly, crisply side-foots that into the corner.
08:27Players having five seconds to take throw-ins, for instance.
08:30Goalkeepers having a set amount of time to take goal kicks.
08:42Gustavo Gomez hot under the collar again.
08:55Good challenge.
08:56Good challenge.
08:57Referee.
08:58Danny McAley in a great position to call that one.
09:01And that one too.
09:06Referee's been excellent today.
09:08He's been busy.
09:13Very experienced, of course.
09:15They all are to officiate at a World Cup.
09:18Talk about it being special for the players.
09:20It's special for the officials too.
09:22That there's no doubt.
09:23Arte's picked up a yellow.
09:29He's certainly got an engine on him, hasn't he, Robinson?
09:33I think I might be checking how many runs he's got.
09:35Might have three.
09:38That's another well-o-car.
09:46I don't think there was much doubt about this one.
09:53You can see the strain on Cunior Alonso's face.
09:59Tyler Adams goes past him.
10:01Robinson trying his best.
10:04Once again, Gustavo Gomez is there.
10:07He's had an excellent game.
10:09Gustavo Gomez has put in three or four outstanding challenges.
10:21This is Reyna.
10:23Oh, yes!
10:26Gio Reyna!
10:35Goal!
10:41History for the USA.
10:43For the first time, they score four goals in a World Cup match.
10:48And what a calm finish this was.
10:51Talk about putting the seal on the victory.
10:54This is one for the archives.
10:56The outside of the right foot.
10:59Arcing away from heel.
11:02Well, that is beautiful from Reyna.
11:16Well, if there's a way to round off a magnificent day for the United States of America.
11:29And the referee has brought the match to a conclusion.
11:37They scored in the final kick of the first half.
11:40They've scored with the final kick from Gio Reyna in the second half.
11:45And they have handsomely seen off Paraguay here in the opening match in Group D in Los Angeles.
11:51USA 4, Paraguay 1.
11:53Now they have final.
11:53Now.
11:55for the last round of three, you let him go and show star.
11:57He's
