Pochettino’s side silences pre-tournament doubts with dominant first-half display in Los Angeles

The United States convincingly launched their home World Cup campaign with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay, thrilling a star-studded crowd in Los Angeles.

Folarin Balogun netted twice, while sustained US pressure forced an early own goal from Paraguay’s Damian Bobadilla.

Substitute Gio Reyna added a fourth to cap a dream start for Mauricio Pochettino’s side at SoFi Stadium.

Drawn in Group D, the US entered the tournament amid uncertainty following a string of defeats and unconvincing performances in pre-World Cup friendlies.

However, they quickly dispelled those doubts with a dazzling first-half display, racing into a 3-0 lead and effectively sealing the contest before the break.

US star Christian Pulisic said: “Just a great start from the guys. They came out with so much energy, a great performance, and a deserved win.

“It’s just the start of a long journey. We’ve got a lot more to do. We should be proud, but we’ve got to keep pushing and be ready for the next game.”

Pop star Katy Perry set the tone with a pre-match performance, while Hollywood stars including Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Halle Berry were among the 70,492 spectators in attendance.

Earlier, relentless US pressure led to Bobadilla’s own goal after just seven minutes, before Balogun—who grew up in London and represented England at youth level before switching allegiance to the United States—completed his brace.