Los Angeles/Toronto, June 13, 2026: The United States delivered a statement performance to open their World Cup campaign, thrashing Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles, while fellow co-hosts Canada battled to a spirited 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto on Friday.
In a dominant display at a sold-out 70,492-strong crowd featuring Hollywood celebrities including Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Paris Hilton, the United States produced one of their most emphatic World Cup wins in recent memory.
The co-hosts struck early when Paraguay conceded an own goal inside seven minutes after sustained pressure from the US attack. From there, the Americans never looked back, overwhelming their opponents with relentless attacking football.
Folarin Balogun starred with a brace, while Gio Reyna added a stunning curling effort to complete the rout. The US were already 3-0 up by half-time, with Paraguay struggling to contain wave after wave of attacks.
The only concern for the hosts came with the half-time withdrawal of captain Christian Pulisic, who had been central to the early attacking play.
Balogun’s first goal came after a sharp move involving Weston McKennie and Pulisic, before his second—an expertly taken curling finish—put the US firmly in control. Reyna capped off the night with a composed stoppage-time strike after Paraguay had briefly pulled one back through substitute Mauricio.
The result places the United States in a strong position in Group D, which also includes Australia and Türkiye, as they target a deep run into the knockout stages.
The match was preceded by a high-profile opening ceremony featuring performances by Katy Perry, Future, Tyla, Anitta, and K-pop star Lisa, with a theatrical presentation staged beneath giant FIFA branding.
In Toronto, Canada endured a far tougher outing but showed resilience to secure a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their Group B opener.
The co-hosts dominated possession and created several chances but were stunned when Jovo Lukic put Bosnia ahead in the 21st minute, punishing a defensive lapse.
Canada responded after the introduction of Cyle Larin, who had started on the bench but made an immediate impact. The striker levelled the match less than three minutes after coming on, finishing calmly after a well-worked move.
Larin said he was determined to prove his worth after being left out of the starting XI, adding that his introduction brought the “composure and control” Canada needed in attack.
Despite sustained pressure, Canada were unable to find a winner, though defender Alistair Johnston credited the home crowd for driving the team’s comeback spirit.
The result leaves Canada with a valuable point ahead of their next Group B fixture against Qatar in Vancouver on June 18.
