California: FIFA World Cup 2026 Matchday 2 saw two hosts – USA and Canada – kick off their campaigns on a high. The USA, playing in front of a raucous Southern California crowd, made the most of a goal-fest against Paraguay in a Group D match. Folarin Balogun scored twice as the USA got off to a sparkling start with a 4-1 win over Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium.
Elsewhere, in Toronto, Canada drew 1-1 against Bosnia and Herzegovina in a Group B match. The goal by Cyle Larin was only the second scored by Canada in World Cup history after the team lost all three of its games at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico and again four years ago in Qatar.
Folarin Balogun scored twice in the Americans’ historic three-goal first half as the U.S. opened its first home World Cup in 32 years with its biggest-ever win in the tournament, a dynamic 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday night.
Christian Pulisic had an assist in a stellar first-half playmaking performance for the Americans, who enthralled their Southern California fans with an aggressive attack while racing to a 3-0 halftime lead – the team’s largest in any World Cup game.
Gio Reyna added another goal in the dying moments of second-half injury time, giving the Americans four goals in a World Cup match for the first time.
The U.S. scored only three goals combined in its four matches at the Qatar World Cup four years ago, and it had never scored more than three in a World Cup match. But the Americans looked transformed while playing in new coach Mauricio Pochettino’s more creative system in front of a passionate, star-studded Los Angeles crowd of 70,492.
Canada earned its first World Cup point in seven matches on football’s biggest stage, and coach Jesse Marsch noted that the sea of red-clad, maple leaf-waving fans continuously chanting “Go Ca-na-da!” helped inspire the team.
A slow start and an early deficit turned into a rousing celebration once late substitute Cyle Larin scored in the 78th minute to secure a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Friday in Canada’s tournament debut on home soil.
