Roldán says Paraguay must keep confidence after USMNT loss

Christian Roldán saw more than a scoreline in Los Angeles Stadium. In a 4-1 win over Paraguay on June 12, the United States men’s national team absorbed an early own goal, stayed composed through Folarin Balogun’s first-half brace and finished with Giovanni Reyna’s stoppage-time strike, a sequence that suggested a group more settled than it was four years ago.

Roldán’s conversation with former USMNT teammate Jozy Altidore centered on that evolution, the kind that comes only after repeated exposure to pressure, tournament matches and the demands of international play. The midfielder’s point was not abstract. Against Paraguay, the Americans did not let a bad opening sequence dictate the rest of the night. They kept their shape, kept creating chances and turned the game decisively before Paraguay could fully settle into the contest.

That mattered because Paraguay arrived with real pedigree and a clear story of revival. The team returned to a FIFA World Cup after 16 years away, ending a run of four straight missed tournaments and qualifying for its ninth World Cup in history. Gustavo Alfaro has been central to that turnaround, and FIFA described his work as key to getting Paraguay back to the global stage.

The Group D meeting also carried historical weight. FIFA framed USA v Paraguay as the first World Cup match between the sides in 96 years, and the matchup showed the difference between a team that has spent the last four years building a sturdier base and one still trying to turn a comeback into consistency. Balogun scored in the 31st minute and again in first-half stoppage time, Reyna added the late insurance goal in the 90th minute plus eight, and Paraguay’s only goal came from Mauricio in the 73rd minute. An early own goal by Paraguay put the visitors behind before they could settle.

Paraguay’s squad still carries names that can alter a match, including Miguel Almirón, Julio Enciso, Antonio Sanabria, Gustavo Gómez and Junior Alonso. But Roldán’s message about confidence cuts both ways: Paraguay must keep believing after the loss, and the United States now has evidence that its own belief is backed by a calmer, more tactically stable group than the one that took shape four years ago.