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Christian Pulisic sparkled, Folarin Balogun delivered, and the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) made a bold World Cup statement. Here’s a detailed look at the winners and losers from the clash against Paraguay.

INGLEWOOD, California – For years, the USMNT had been told that this summer represented an opportunity like no other. A World Cup on home soil, a chance to prove their worth, silence the critics, and reward loyal followers. In their own words, it was a moment to transform American football forever.

And they seized it with both hands.

To say they merely took the opportunity would be an understatement. The USMNT embraced it, dominated it, and then stamped their authority repeatedly. For years, they visualised what this night might look like. Even the most hopeful fans couldn’t have dreamt it quite like this: United States 4, Paraguay 1 – a scoreline that barely captures the electric atmosphere in the stadium.

“I think that was the bigger moment for us: just hearing the national anthem,” said midfielder Weston McKennie while describing the perfect World Cup opener. “Hearing the fans sing along, that’s when you feel it deep inside — ‘I’m proud to be American.’ This is my home, my country, and that feeling is hard to put into words.

“Even if many in the stands were first-time fans or just came for the experience, I hope they were captivated by what we did tonight.”

“Captivated” is indeed the right word. The USMNT played with flair and confidence on Friday night. From the opening whistle, they dismantled an overmatched Paraguay side. They entertained, scored, and celebrated with pure joy — their energy radiating across millions of screens throughout the United States.

It was worth far more than just three points. But in a World Cup, those points matter. The USMNT won decisively, and so did American football, as the team kicked off its home World Cup campaign with an unmissable statement.

WINNER: Folarin Balogun

It’s hard not to think back to Orlando in 2023, when Balogun’s journey with the USMNT began. The team needed a goal scorer, and he answered that call in his World Cup debut.

Balogun netted twice in the first half and was only a step offside from what would have been a hat-trick. The striker was ruthless, and Paraguay had no answer for him.

His first goal came from a well-timed finish following a precise assist from Christian Pulisic. His second was even more impressive — after receiving the ball in open space, he drove forward, cut inside, and fired a stunning shot into the top corner to make it 3-0. The USMNT bench erupted, chasing him into the corner as the Los Angeles crowd roared. Balogun earned every bit of that ovation.

“I visualised scoring on my World Cup debut,” Balogun said, “but the reality surpassed that with two goals. The second was a special one. It truly was a dreamy night.”

This was his big moment — and somehow, it turned out even better than he had imagined.

LOSER: Damián Bobadilla

Few things sting more than starting a World Cup campaign with an own goal. To be fair, there wasn’t much Bobadilla could have done differently, but that’s little consolation.

In Paraguay’s first World Cup appearance since 2010, disaster struck just seven minutes in when Bobadilla accidentally turned Weston McKennie’s pass into his own net. Paraguay never fully recovered. The USMNT capitalised on the momentum, surging through a dominant first half fuelled by home support.

It was an unfortunate way for Bobadilla’s World Cup dream to begin — the 24-year-old experiencing the nightmare every player fears.

WINNER: Christian Pulisic

After the match, Pulisic reassured fans that he was fine following a minor knock. “Nothing serious,” he said, allowing supporters to breathe a sigh of relief before reflecting on his dazzling performance.

For 45 minutes, Pulisic orchestrated the attack. He was relentless, constantly beating defenders and creating opportunities. He engineered the first goal by finding McKennie, which led to the own goal, and then set up Balogun’s opener with a perfectly timed pass.

The USMNT attack was a spectacle, with Pulisic leading the show.

“It’s something special to watch,” he said. “It’s great to see different players showing their skills. But beyond that, our chemistry feels incredible. Balogun’s goals stand out, but his hold-up play, his work against centre-backs — it’s all vital. Serg [Dest], Malik [Tillman], everyone put in a strong shift. They deserve credit.”

Pulisic, of course, deserves plenty himself. As the face of the team, he carried enormous pressure but made it all look effortless.

“Playing here in America, seeing the Red, White, and Blue in the stands, hearing the chants — it pushes us forward,” he added. “We hope it continues this way, and I’m confident it will.”

LOSER: Paraguay

This defeat will be a tough one to digest. In a group that seemed wide open, Paraguay were comprehensively beaten, leaving them with an uphill task.

Coach Gustavo Alfaro will now need to rally his squad. He’ll tell them this game is over, that two matches remain, and that they must move forward. Yet, in the World Cup, that’s easier said than done.

Paraguay’s lone goal was some consolation, but with zero points and a minus-three goal difference, they’ve made life difficult for themselves. You can’t win the World Cup in your opening game, but you can certainly lose it — and Paraguay may have done just that.

WINNER: Sergiño Dest

When Dest is at his best, he plays with daring flair. He’s a throwback — an entertainer who thrives on taking risks, and on Friday night, he put on a show.

It’s hard to pick his standout moment. Was it one of several instances when he blew past defenders with ease? Or when he pulled off audacious touches that few would have attempted? Perhaps it was the sequence late in the first half when he beat a defender, slowed down to let him catch up, and then beat him again — purely for fun.

Dest clearly enjoyed himself, and he hoped the fans did too.

“It feels great,” he said. “We always aim to play like that. It shows dominance because you can only express yourself that way when you’re in control. Hopefully, we can maintain that level in the next matches.”

It may also have been a message to the rest of the group. Dest wanted everyone watching to understand that the USMNT can truly play. And after this performance, there’s no doubt that he can.

“We showed the world what we’re capable of,” he said. “Winning the first game is crucial, and we did it convincingly. The other teams in our group know what’s coming.”