Consider it a save for the tournament, three points for soccer in America and maybe even a win for uniting the States.<\/p>\n
The Americans on the pitch did all that, including making sure a sellout crowd of 70,492 fans got their money\u2019s worth for their exorbitantly high-priced seats to watch football under Friday Night Lights at SoFi Stadium.<\/p>\n
![\"U.S.](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781362052_516_.jpeg\")
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U.S. forward Folarin Balogun, right, celebrates with Sergino Dest and Chris Richards after scoring during a World Cup win over Paraguay Friday at SoFi Stadium.<\/p>\n
(Robert Gauthier\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n
It was not a clean sheet. And it wasn\u2019t an elixir for all the issues<\/a> \u2014 visas, tickets, transportation \u2014 that ailed the tournament in its buildup.<\/p>\n But the opening statement by the United States confirmed what we thought might be true. Only one thing could save this soccer tournament: Soccer.<\/p>\n The U.S. delivered a performance to change the conversation \u2014 for the next few weeks and maybe longer.<\/p>\n Making history to alter history.<\/p>\n The United States scored multiple goals in a World Cup first half for the first time since 2002.<\/p>\n It got two of them from Folarin Balogun<\/a>, the Brooklyn-born, England-raised forward of Nigerian descent who became just the second USMNT player to score two goals in a World Cup game and the first since 1930.<\/p>\n Got a perfect match from Chris Richards<\/a>, the afro-rocking defender with the long, loping strides, was 83 for 83 on his passes. That\u2019s better than any player at a World Cup since 1966.<\/p>\n And if possession is nine-tenths of the law of attraction, know that the Americans possessed the ball 71% of the first half, most in the first half of a World Cup game in the modern era.<\/p>\n Landon Donovan<\/a>, star of the 2002 team that reached the World Cup quarterfinal \u2014 a record that still stands \u2014 posted on X<\/a>: \u201cFrom start to finish, that was the most enjoyable day of soccer I\u2019ve ever experienced.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s the stuff that will get the American people going. Get us invested, get us behind them. That could convert even devout casuals.<\/p>\n Americans love a good underdog story. We also want the best, the finest, the biggest \u2014 and this, with its expanded field of 48, is the biggest version of the biggest and best tournament in the world.<\/p>\n And the only thing we love more than winning is dominating. The United States did that Friday against a Paraguayan team that had allowed only 10 goals in 18 World Cup qualifying matches, and whom the United States beat 2-1 in a tense match in November.<\/p>\n Fans cheer during the U.S, win over Paraguay in their World Cup opener Saturday at SoFi Stadium.<\/p>\n (Robert Gauthier\/Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n That was Mauricio Pochettino<\/a> and his players helping us help them.<\/p>\n \u201cThe fans, amazing,\u201d said Pochettino, the team\u2019s accomplished Argentine coach. \u201cOn behalf of the whole team, a massive thank you to the fans. Because the energy that they [gave] to the team was amazing. We can do amazing things if the fans are in this as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Friday was so good for soccer in America.<\/p>\n And so good for America. The kind of butt-kicking that\u2019s chicken soup for a nation\u2019s soul.<\/p>\n Maybe it\u2019s idealist and naive, or apple-pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking, but I believe that they can win. (And by win, I mean make the quarterfinals again.)<\/p>\n There\u2019s no removing politics from this World Cup, but wouldn\u2019t it be fun to all rally behind a team together? Can\u2019t you see the country coalescing behind the right wingers and left wingers on the pitch? Picture people celebrating the freedom inherent in Pochettino\u2019s system? Cheering the all-of-one and one-for-all of this team of dual nationals and Americans raised abroad \u2014 or in Alabama?<\/p>\n Postmatch, Pochettino refused to single out any one player, instead giving reporters a recitation of his roster: \u201c[Christian Pulisic<\/a>] was amazing [setting up two goals]. Balogun was amazing, of course. Tim Ream<\/a> was amazing, of course. Chris Richards was amazing, yes. Weston McKennie<\/a>, he was amazing, amazing. Antonee Robinson<\/a>, Alex Freeman<\/a>, amazing. Sergi\u00f1o Dest<\/a>, amazing \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Like they put it on the @USMNT Instagram account<\/a>: \u201cTogether as Won.\u201d<\/p>\n U.S. soccer, amazing.<\/p>\n ![\"Fans](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781342678_256_.jpeg\")
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