00:01after a 16-year absence and the co-hosts and their opponents today are joined in Group D
00:07by Australia and Turkey Air. Wherever you are in the world, welcome to football's grandest stage.
00:18The world of football has come to the nation of soccer and the FIFA World Cup 2026 co-hosts the
00:27USA face-off against Paraguay in the first match in Group D. Paraguay backline and they've certainly done that.
00:36It's a big chance. It's an all-goal.
00:47Looked like it came off Damian Bobadier.
00:51Well, the big players stepped forwards, didn't they? Weston McKennie starts off, lovely bit of play.
00:57Fires it out towards Pulisic and then he shows his class and his sharpness darting between two players and then
01:04you think McKennie's going to shoot.
01:06Tries to pass it to Balogun and there's not a lot
01:10that Bobadier can do. He's trying to get back and help his team. Comes across, he just sticks out a
01:17right foot.
01:20Brilliant to open things up.
01:25It's going to be a yellow card here.
01:35Caceres
01:37With the late challenge, but the referee had a good view of it. Too quick, too sharp, Pulisic.
01:45Caceres
01:47Pokes it through his legs
01:49Takes down
01:52Pulisic
01:53And, of course, he's got a long time now.
01:56Ream and Richards forward from the back.
02:02Trying to work something, perhaps, off the training ground and
02:05doesn't really fox Paraguay, but
02:08Freeman's made a good run here.
02:11That was an important header.
02:13Steps inside to good effect, Anthony Robinson, and this falls kindly for the USA, and Paraguay has stretched.
02:22And there was an important interception there.
02:24The door was almost open to a second.
02:28Once again, that ball in towards Weston McKennie, but a look. Balogun, I thought he was going to take the
02:32strike on, he doesn't he plays it to Dest.
02:34Such a poor first touch
02:37from Sir
02:39Giogest.
02:40Right back
02:42playing as
02:44more advanced player in Pochettino's setup.
02:48And it's a good partnership, he's actually got with Freeman down the USA right. That's been
02:53evident in the build-up to this competition.
02:56Yes, similar with Robinson. What brilliant play that was.
02:59Again.
03:00One of those little passes between the lines, aren't they?
03:06Some of this one-touch football and quick movement, he's very much keeping the Paraguayans on their toes.
03:15Absolutely, and Tillman, Adams, McKennie.
03:23Good run by Robinson to open up the space. Here's McKennie.
03:29And it's in!
03:37Fuller in Balogun.
03:40Fuller in Balogun.
03:41The assistance flag is up.
03:44It looked a tight one.
03:46When it came through, sure that might be what they're looking at.
03:51Or even Balogun as well, as Tyler Adams just...
03:55Passed it through to him.
03:57Leaving themselves a little bit more, I think.
04:02And a stretch down the right side of the defence again, should be two!
04:07And it is two!
04:10And this time, no one is going to take the goal away from Fuller in Balogun.
04:19The thrill of a lifetime for this popular USA striker and Paraguay are in deep, deep trouble.
04:31Well, we wondered about USA's top players and their top man Pulisic.
04:37Oh, he's delivered.
04:38It's a brilliant run.
04:40It's a superb pass as well into his striker.
04:43You can just see the calmness, the composure from Balogun.
04:48Making sure, making absolutely sure with that side foot.
04:52Keeping it low.
04:53Well, the tube against Bolivia.
04:55To draw.
04:56But they're under pressure.
04:58Huge pressure!
05:10Sensational!
05:12Fuller in Balogun.
05:15With the most convincing of finishes.
05:19And this is just simple.
05:21Tillman it is.
05:22Finds the gap between fullback and centre-back.
05:26Alderete tries with the slide tackle.
05:29He has to make it.
05:30Because once Balogun gets into this position, he's calm.
05:33Oh, and he finds that top corner.
05:36He really does.
05:38When you're confident, these just come naturally.
05:41As you can see, curling into the top corner.
05:44With a wonderful first-half performance.
05:46Two for Balogun.
05:48Bobadie is early on goal.
05:503-0 Paraguay at the break.
05:56Almiron.
06:00Goes down under the challenge.
06:03The assistant referee for a moment just hesitated before raising the flag.
06:08The referee looked to his colleague.
06:12And the yellow card is flourished.
06:16Del Cerro Grande, head of VAR.
06:19The Spaniard.
06:20Is having a check over mistaken identity.
06:28Well, you said at the time that there wasn't a great deal of contact, if any, on Almiron.
06:39It's got a yellow card.
06:42Yes.
06:44And it's simulation.
06:45The yellow card goes to Miguel Almiron.
06:50Tim Ream's yellow card is wiped away.
06:54Almiron gets the booking.
06:58Clearly, the referee and the officials didn't want the advantage of the possibility.
07:05Free kick.
07:08Anthony Robinson's corner.
07:26The yellow card issued here.
07:32They are to go far in this competition.
07:35And we might have to call upon that depth.
07:38Almiron doing well.
07:39And they've set themselves up nicely and scored.
07:48And it's the substitute, Maurizio, who celebrates the first real incision inside the Los Angeles Stadium.
08:013-1.
08:02Well, it comes from the goalkeeper's pre-kick.
08:06But when it falls to Enciso, he's got a picture in his mind.
08:09He lays it to Maurizio.
08:12It's a perfect weighted pass.
08:15Referee's view to Maurizio, who then just firmly, crisply side-foots that into the corner.
08:23Reyes having five seconds to take throw-ins, for instance.
08:26Goalkeepers having a set amount of time to take goal-kicks.
08:39Gustavo Gomez, hot under the collar again.
08:51Good challenge.
08:53Referee.
08:54Danny McAley in a great position to call that one.
08:58And that one too.
09:02Referee's been excellent today.
09:04He's been busy.
09:09Very experienced, of course.
09:11They all are to officiate at a World Cup.
09:15Talk about it being special for the players.
09:17It's special for the officials too.
09:19That there's no doubt.
09:20Arte's picked up a yellow.
09:26He's certainly got an engine on him, hasn't he, Robinson.
09:29I think I might be checking how many runs he's got.
09:31Might have three.
09:34That's another yellow car.
09:43I don't think there was much doubt about this one.
09:49And you can see the strain on Kunio Alonso's face.
09:55Tyler Adams goes past him.
09:58Robinson trying his best.
10:00Once again, Gustavo Gomez is there.
10:03He's had an excellent game.
10:06Gustavo Gomez has put in three or four outstanding challenges.
10:16This is Reyna.
10:19Oh, yes!
10:22Gio Reyna!
10:35Gio Reyna!
10:37History for the USA.
10:40For the first time they score four goals in a World Cup match.
10:44And what a calm finish this was.
10:47Talk about putting the seal on the victory.
10:50This is one for the archives.
10:52The outside of the right foot arcing away from heel.
11:00That is beautiful from Reyna.
11:13Well, if there's a way to round off a magnificent day for the United States of America.
11:20That was it.
11:27And the referee has brought the match to a conclusion.
11:33They scored in the final kick of the first half.
11:37They've scored with the final kick from Gio Reyna in the second half.
11:41And they have handsomely seen off Paraguay here in the opening match in Group D in Los Angeles.
11:47USA 4, Paraguay 1.
11:49USA 4, Paraguay 1.
11:50USA 4, Paraguay 1.
11:58The first half.
11:58It was the first half.
11:58They was just a moment.
11:59How can you make peace that will take off the deep goal?
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