Folarin Balogun scores twice as USMNT beats Paraguay 4-1 in World Cup

History was made when the USA dropped a quadruple bomb on Paraguay.

For the first time in history, the USA scored at least four goals in a World Cup match.

Moreover, 24-year-old Folarin Balogun became the first American player to score more than one goal in a World Cup match since 1930. The 4-1 victory over Paraguay also marked the first time the United States won a World Cup match by three goals since 1930, when it also defeated Paraguay. Team USA notched the historic win in the 2026 FIFA World Cup opener in Southern California on Friday night.

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Balogun’s big night marked a historic moment in one of the most fascinating American football stories in USMNT history.

The USA scored its first goal in the first seven minutes to take a 3-0 lead and come within one goal of capturing the biggest World Cup victory in program history. Despite the three-goal advantage, the Americans continued to press for a fourth goal. However, after US captain Christian Pulisic was injured, Paraguay found the back of the net in the 73rd minute.

But in the final seconds, 23-year-old Gio Reyna scored the historic fourth goal, allowing the USA to gain three points in the World Cup standings.

America’s goal barrage started with Paraguayan Damián Bobadilla’s own goal in the sixth minute, giving the Americans an early lead in the highly anticipated group stage match.

American fans at SoFi Stadium roared as the USMNT took an early advantage.

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Folarin Balogun of the United States celebrates scoring the second goal with his teammates during a FIFA World Cup Group D match against Paraguay on June 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Gary Vasquez/Imagn Images)

Then, in the 30th minute, New York’s Balogun doubled the difference by scoring his first goal in the World Cup.

Balogun’s strike gave the USA a two-goal advantage in the 30th minute; this was the third fastest goal by the Americans in a World Cup match. The only time the USA team managed to get the ball on goal earlier was against Portugal in 2002 (29th minute) and against Paraguay in 1930 (15th minute).

Balogun’s special night continued at half-time and he scored again, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Balogun crossed teammate Malik Tillman’s pinpoint pass and then fired into the top left corner for a remarkable goal.

Born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents but raised in London, Balogun graduated from the prestigious Arsenal academy. He was discovered playing in a local “Sunday League” in London when he was eight years old and joined the youth academy of Arsenal, one of England’s biggest professional clubs.

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Christian Pulisic of the United States celebrates with his teammates after an own goal from Paraguay Damian Bobadilla during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group D match on June 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)

He had the option of playing for the USA or England and went on holiday to the USA in 2023 while he decided which national team he would join. He felt such overwhelming support from American fans on social media that it greatly influenced his decision to pledge international allegiance to the United States.

Now he is America’s newest star, who is off to a strong start at the World Cup, which will be played on home soil for the first time in three decades.