Pulisic assists Balogun as United States strikes twice against Paraguay

Christian Pulisic and Folarin Balogun gave the United States something far more valuable than a single goal against Paraguay: a connection that looked repeatable. Pulisic’s precise assist set up Balogun with authority for the second U.S. score in a 2-1 opening win in Los Angeles, the kind of partnership that can decide tight knockout-stage matches.

The Group D opener at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, California, had been billed as one of the most anticipated games in American soccer history, and the reason was simple. The United States and Paraguay already knew each other well. FIFA had called it a meeting between familiar foes, and the Americans had beaten Paraguay 2-1 in Chester, Pennsylvania, in November 2025. U.S. Soccer noted that all three of the U.S. group-stage opponents in 2026 had been faced in 2025, and every one of those matches ended 2-1.

That familiarity seemed to sharpen the stakes rather than dull them. Cristian Roldan said before kickoff that “This game sets the tone for the tournament,” and the way the United States attacked suggested the staff wanted a fast answer to the pressure of opening the World Cup at home. The match began at 6:00 p.m. Los Angeles time, with the Americans hosting alongside Canada and Mexico.

Balogun’s finish mattered not just because it doubled the lead, but because it fit a pattern U.S. Soccer has tracked all autumn. The AS Monaco striker had scored in three consecutive starts for the national team in the fall 2025 window, against Japan, Ecuador and Paraguay. He also told FIFA in January that facing Paraguay had been “really difficult,” adding that the psychological edge came from knowing the United States had already beaten Paraguay and Australia.

For the Americans, that matters beyond one night. Tournament football often turns on whether a team can build reliable relationships under pressure, and Pulisic to Balogun looked like one worth betting on. Balogun, born in London on July 3, 2001, committed to the United States on May 16, 2023, and his choice is looking more consequential with every sharp run and measured finish. If the U.S. attack keeps finding that sort of chemistry, the rest of the field has reason to pay attention.