To find a comparable moment to the United States’ impressive victory over Paraguay, one must reflect on an era when teams withdrew from the World Cup due to the Great Depression, relying on sea travel and competing with a leather ball stitched with seam and laces.
The 4-1 win not only matched a 96-year-old record but also marked the largest victory margin for the USA in a men’s World Cup match, surpassing their previous wins of 3-0 during the inaugural tournament in 1930—once against Belgium and, ironically, against Paraguay.
This outstanding performance also set a new benchmark for the most goals scored by the USA in a men’s World Cup. The team’s first-half surge, where they scored three goals, mirrored one of the most remarkable 45 minutes ever seen in modern World Cup history, reminiscent of their 3-0 lead against Portugal in 2002, a moment ESPN commentator Jack Edwards famously remarked was “stopping traffic all over Europe”
This match will be cherished not only for its statistical importance but also for the emotional impact it had on US fans, thanks to the game’s intangible elements.
“I think we are winning a lot of fans, and adding fans for this sport,” Mauricio Pochettino said of his team’s performance. “I think it was a great match; was amazing for our fans to see this type of game.”
The USA’s performance no longer resembled the labor-intensive style of past World Cups, where they often advanced through sheer determination and grit, although they did display some resilience after Paraguay scored in the second half.
The most notable aspect of the USA’s opening match was their style of play. Their fluid midfield combinations, agile movements that dissected Paraguay’s defense, and precise finishes rendered the initial Paraguayan own goal inconsequential. The sold-out crowd of 70,492 at Los Angeles Stadium was filled with gasps and cheers.
“It’s pretty special to watch,” remarked Christian Pulisic, who was impressive before being substituted at halftime due to a minor injury, later confirmed as not serious. “It’s fun to look around and know that there’s different guys that can pull off these different skills and moves and things going on. It’s great. I feel like there’s such a good connection between us right now.”
The USA’s midfielders skillfully navigated around Paraguay’s defense, with manager Gustavo Alfaro comparing their movements to “This is a team that is complex, because they have answers to every element you throw at them,”
“We knew they were a very complex rival. We knew they have coordination, broadness, triangulations, and we were not ready … They dominated technically, tactically and physically as well.” Alfaro stated. “You want to push me to talk about names, and it’s about the team … the collective approach,”
This match also showcased some of the finest individual performances in the history of the men’s World Cup. Pulisic emerged as the USA’s all-time leader in World Cup assists, consistently posing a threat throughout his time on the field. Meanwhile, Folarin Balogun’s brace marked the first time since 1930 that a US player scored multiple goals in a single World Cup match, when Bert Patenaude netted three against Paraguay.
While acknowledging the standout performances of Pulisic and Balogun, Pochettino emphasized the significance of the team’s collective effort, quickly naming each starter and describing their contributions as “Of course, we have talented players that you can observe … but one thing we need to praise is the collective effort.”
“I felt like it was a real statement.” he noted. “I’m not one to speculate,”
This unified strategy resulted in what Balogun described as a “I haven’t seen all of them.” in Southern California.
“I felt like it was a real statement.”
But can this performance be regarded as the best ever?
“I’m not one to speculate,” Pulisic replied. “I haven’t seen all of them.”
