The opening matches for two of the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosts delivered plenty of excitement on Friday, June 12. While the United States made an emphatic statement with a dominant victory over Paraguay, Canada secured a hard-fought draw that will go down as a historic moment in the nation’s soccer history.
Both teams now look ahead to their second group-stage fixtures with valuable points already on the board.
Balogun Leads USA’s Explosive Start
The United States Men’s National Team could hardly have asked for a better start to its World Cup campaign.
Playing in front of a sold-out crowd of more than 70,000 fans at Los Angeles Stadium, the Americans cruised to a 4-1 victory over Paraguay, immediately moving to the top of Group D.
The breakthrough came just seven minutes into the match when Paraguay defender Damián Bobadilla accidentally turned the ball into his own net under pressure from Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie.
Once ahead, the United States never looked back.
The star of the night was undoubtedly Folarin Balogun, who announced himself on the World Cup stage with two first-half goals. His first arrived in the 30th minute after a slick passing move involving Antonee Robinson and Pulisic. Balogun calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner to double the lead.
He struck again deep into first-half stoppage time, producing a moment of brilliance. After collecting a long pass from Malik Tillman, Balogun beat his defender before curling a stunning effort into the top corner.
By halftime, the United States had built a commanding 3-0 advantage.
Paraguay Responds but USA Finishes Strong
Paraguay managed to pull one goal back in the 72nd minute when substitute Maurício finished a move created by Julio Enciso.
However, any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished.
Deep into stoppage time, substitute Giovanni Reyna capped off the performance with the Americans’ fourth goal. Reyna converted a pass from debutant Alex Freeman to complete a memorable night for Mauricio Pochettino’s squad.
Beyond the scoreline, the statistics highlighted the United States’ dominance. The Americans outshot Paraguay 16-9 and restricted their opponents to just one shot on target throughout the match.
The victory also produced a notable milestone. The four-goal performance represents the highest scoring World Cup match in USMNT history, while Balogun became only the second American player ever to score multiple goals in a World Cup game.
With three points and a healthy goal difference, the United States sits alone at the top of Group D ahead of its next match against Australia on June 19.
Canada Ends Long Wait for a World Cup Point
While Canada did not secure victory, the nation’s opening match still carried significant historical importance.
Facing Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto, Jesse Marsch’s side battled back from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw, securing Canada’s first-ever point in Men’s FIFA World Cup history.
Before this result, Canada had lost all six of its previous World Cup matches across the 1986 and 2022 tournaments.
Bosnia struck first in the 21st minute through Jovo Lukić, who headed home from close range following a dangerous corner kick sequence.
Canada pushed hard before halftime but struggled to convert its opportunities. Jonathan David was denied by goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, while Tani Oluwaseyi missed a promising chance inside the penalty area.
Larin Delivers When Canada Needed It Most
The second half brought more frustration for the home side.
In the 62nd minute, Canada thought it had found an equalizer when Richie Laryea chipped the goalkeeper. However, Bosnia captain Sead Kolašinac produced a remarkable goal-line clearance, preserving his team’s lead.
The breakthrough finally arrived late in the match.
Jesse Marsch introduced Cyle Larin in the 76th minute, and the substitution paid off almost immediately. Just two minutes later, Promise David provided the setup, allowing Larin to turn and fire a precise finish into the bottom corner.
The goal sparked celebrations throughout Toronto and ensured Canada would leave with a valuable point.
The result leaves Group B completely open heading into the next round of fixtures. Canada will now travel to Vancouver, where it will face Qatar on June 18.
Four More Matches Set to Close Opening Round
Attention now shifts to Saturday’s packed World Cup schedule, which will complete the opening round of matches in Groups B, C, and D.
One of the standout fixtures sees Brazil take on Morocco, a clash that many consider among the most intriguing matches of the first round. Brazil begins its quest for a sixth World Cup title, while Morocco hopes to build on the momentum from its memorable run in 2022.
Meanwhile, Australia and Türkiye meet in a crucial Group D showdown. Following the United States’ commanding victory, both teams know that three points could be vital in the race for qualification.
Group B also remains wide open as Qatar faces Switzerland, with the winner potentially moving into an early leadership position after Canada’s draw with Bosnia and Herzegovina.
With several high-profile teams still waiting to make their tournament debut, the excitement surrounding the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues to build.
