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For months, USMNT fans have wondered what a Mauricio Pochettino team would actually look like once it had time to train together. On Friday night at SoFi Stadium, they got their answer.
The United States opened the 2026 World Cup with a dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay, producing one of the best performances in modern USMNT history. The Americans scored four goals, controlled possession, overwhelmed Paraguay tactically, and looked every bit like a team capable of making a deep run this summer.
More importantly, this wasn't a win built on individual brilliance alone. It was a performance built on movement, confidence, and a tactical system that left Paraguay chasing the ball for most of the night.
Movement Was the Difference
One of the biggest reasons the United States looked so dangerous was how fluid the attack became under Pochettino.
Instead of players staying glued to their positions, everyone seemed to be rotating. Christian Pulisic drifted centrally, Sergiño Dest popped up as a winger, Weston McKennie made constant runs into advanced areas, and Malik Tillman floated between midfield and attack.
"We're moving a lot from position to other positions," Dest said after the match. "And that is just really difficult to defend for other teams."
Paraguay never found an answer.
Every time a defender stepped out to follow a runner, another American player attacked the newly created space. The result was wave after wave of attacks that repeatedly opened gaps in Paraguay's defensive shape.
Folarin Balogun Ended the Striker Debate
If there were any questions about who should lead the line for the USMNT, Folarin Balogun answered them emphatically.
The Monaco striker scored twice and was a constant problem for Paraguay's center backs. His first goal came from excellent positioning inside the box after a dangerous Pulisic cross. His second was a clinical finish that effectively put the game away before halftime.
Balogun was finishing chances and using hold-up play to connect the attack, while his movement created space for teammates throughout the match.
By the end of the night, Balogun had touched the ball in Paraguay's penalty area more times than Paraguay's entire team managed collectively.
The Midfield Controlled Everything
While Balogun grabbed the headlines, the midfield trio of Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman, and Weston McKennie quietly controlled the game.
Tillman was especially impressive. Playing deeper than many fans are used to seeing him, he constantly found pockets of space and helped move the ball through Paraguay's defensive block. McKennie's relentless movement stretched the field, while Adams provided the balance that allowed everyone else to attack.
Paraguay manager Gustavo Alfaro admitted afterward that his team struggled to deal with the constant movement between Tillman, Pulisic, and McKennie.
Simply put, the Americans always seemed to have an extra man available.
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Defensively, the USMNT Looked Ready
Lost amid all the attacking fireworks was an excellent defensive performance.
Chris Richards completed every pass he attempted, while Tim Ream turned back the clock with one of his best USMNT performances in years. The veteran center back was calm in possession, won key duels, and consistently read danger before it developed.
Paraguay managed just one goal and very few dangerous moments from open play. Whenever they tried to build momentum, the United States quickly recovered possession and went right back on the attack.
A Statement Performance
The most encouraging part of the evening was how comfortable the United States looked.
This wasn't a team relying on moments of magic or hoping to survive. This was a team dictating the match from start to finish.
As Tim Ream explained afterward:
"We mixed it up so much tonight, they weren't sure what we were going to do."
That unpredictability was exactly what made the USMNT so dangerous.
World Cups aren't won after one match, and tougher tests will certainly come. Australia awaits next week, and the road only gets harder from there.
But for one night in Los Angeles, the United States looked like a team playing with freedom, confidence, and belief. The flow was there. The tactics were there. The goals were there.
And if this performance is a sign of what's to come, the rest of the world may need to start paying attention.
