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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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Team USA couldn't have asked for a better start to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Americans demolished Paraguay 4-1 on Friday night at SoFi Stadium, racing out to a 3-0 lead by halftime in what's already being viewed as arguably the USMNT's best win in years.
The U.S. took an early 1-0 lead after an own goal from Paraguay's Damián Bobadilla just seven minutes in, before Monaco striker Folarin Balogun scored two goals for the U.S. before halftime. Giovanni Reyna then capped off the win with a fourth goal in injury time.
It was the United States' first three-goal win in a World Cup match since 1930 and Balogun became just the second USMNT player ever to score twice in a single World Cup game, joining Bert Patenaude in 1930.
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On Saturday morning, Shaka Hislop, the former Trinidad and Tobago national team goaltender turned ESPN soccer analyst, confidently called it the best USMNT performance he's ever seen.
"I have eaten all my words. Mauricio Pochettino and this team have made me eat all those words. I've seen this U.S. team over many years, I have played against many U.S. teams. I do not think I've seen this good a performance from the U.S. men's national team at any level of the game, that was how dominating a performance this was," Hislop said. "It could have been so much more, you take it for what it is. But an incredible start to the tournament that the U.S. can surely build on."
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Hislop represented Trinidad and Tobago from 1999 to 2006, and spent most of his professional career in England, playing for Reading, Newcastle United, West Ham United, and Portsmouth, before retiring with FC Dallas in 2007.
Having appearing in 26 international matches for Trinidad and Tobago, and captaining for five of them, Hislop has faced the U.S. several times, and remains one of the most respected voices in American soccer media.
That's why when he claims this to be the most dominant USMNT performance he's ever seen, it sticks.
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Group D suddenly looks very winnable for the co-hosts. The U.S. sits alongside Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey, and Team USA's next match comes Friday, June 19, against Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle.
The Stars and Stripes will close out the group against Turkey, likely their biggest challengers, back in L.A. on June 25.
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