U.S. Soccer said the hosts led 3-0 at halftime after a Damián Bobadilla own goal in the seventh minute and two first-half goals from Folarin Balogun. Paraguay substitute Maurício scored in the 73rd minute before Gio Reyna made it 4-1 in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time, according to U.S. Soccer's scoring summary.
Table: United States 4, Paraguay 1 scoring summary
| Minute | Team | Scorer | Assist or source of goal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | United States | Damián Bobadilla own goal | U.S. transition move involving Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie |
| 31 | United States | Folarin Balogun | Christian Pulisic |
| 45+5 | United States | Folarin Balogun | Malik Tillman |
| 73 | Paraguay | Maurício | Julio Enciso |
| 90+8 | United States | Gio Reyna | Alex Freeman |
Source: U.S. Soccer match report, 13 June 2026.
The result gave the United States three points in its first match as a co-host. U.S. Soccer said the Group D fixture drew 70,492 spectators, while ESPN's match page recorded the final score as United States 4, Paraguay 1 and listed the match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. FIFA's match report also listed the USA goals as a Bobadilla own goal, Balogun in the 31st and 45+5th minutes, and Reyna in the 90+8th minute.
Balogun's two goals were the decisive individual scoring contribution. U.S. Soccer said he became only the second U.S. men's player with a multi-goal game in World Cup play, after Bert Patenaude's 1930 hat-trick against Paraguay. The Associated Press separately reported that the win was the first time since the inaugural 1930 tournament that the U.S. men had won a World Cup match by a three-goal margin.
The opening goal came from U.S. pressure rather than a credited American scorer. U.S. Soccer said Pulisic found McKennie near the six-yard box and McKennie's attempted pass across goal was bundled in by Bobadilla. The Guardian's match report described the same opening sequence as a Pulisic-McKennie move that took a deflection off Bobadilla before crossing the line.