The United States made a dream start to its FIFA World Cup campaign with a dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium. Folarin Balogun starred with a first-half brace as the hosts raced to a 3-0 halftime lead before sealing the win with another goal after the break. The emphatic triumph marked the USA's highest-scoring performance in FIFA World Cup history, delighting home fans as the tournament returned to American soil for the first time in 32 years.