The USMNT bag four!
In a dominant first half showing, the US scored more goals than they did in their their four matches at Qatar 2022. It’s the first time, dating back to their participation in the inaugural World Cup of 1930, that the USA have scored four goals in a tournament game.
In the end, the margin of victory matched that of their best ever results at the World Cup (both 3-0, both in 1930), although there was no match ball for Folorin Balogun, who scored two but fell short of the hat trick that Bert Patenaude recorded, also against Paraguay, 96 years ago.
Paraguay’s first World Cup game since 2010 got off to a terrible start with Damián Bobadilla’s own goal on seven minutes, and bar a second half consolation, it didn’t get much better. The US notched a remarkable 53 touches in the opposition box, with Paraguay managing just 9.
Coming into the game, Paraguay hadn’t conceded more than one goal in any of their last 10 World Cup matches. By the end of the night, the South Americans looked dead on their feet.
Canada break an unwanted streak
This is Canada’s third World Cup participation, and although they couldn’t find a winner against a dogged Bosnia and Herzegovina, a first ever point ended their run of six straight defeats on the world stage.
Bosnia are going to be hard to break down at this tournament, with their solid defensive effort led by former Arsenal man, Sead Kolašinac, who looked inspired until he was caught out for Cyle Larin’s late-ish equaliser.
All in all, it was a good start for Jesse Marsch’s side, with the coach drawing plenty of positives from the second half performance.
"We felt like we had them. You know, like we were starting to push the game, the subs came on and made a big difference. We could see that they were fading."
Which host nation looks the strongest? And hydration break advantages?
We’ve now seen each of our North American hosts play their first 90 minutes at the tournament. But which of the three looks best placed to make the biggest impact?
Mexico have the crowd, the pedigree, and showed some real attacking intent to capitalise on South Africa’s poor performance at the Azteca. Canada stuck to their task, and used their substitutes to good effect in the draw vs. Bosnia. And the US, well, they blew Paraguay out of the water!
Also worth noting, is a developing theory that the enforced FIFA Hydration Breaks we’ve seen at this World Cup have had quite an impact on the matches. Take last night’s contest in Toronto, where the momentum of play swung back to the home nation after the drinks break midway through each half.
What's been your favourite goal of the World Cup so far?
It’s time for the real Group Stage mayhem to ensue. We get at least four matches per day from now on, and depending on your time zone, virtually 24-hour wall-to-wall football!
We start with Qatar vs. Switzerland, the second game in Canada’s group. Then it’s one of the most heavily anticipated fixtures of the round in New Jersey, where record winners Brazil take on 2022 semifinalists Morocco.
Scotland end their 28-year hiatus from World Cup football against Haiti, who’ve been absent for even longer, and we round things off with Australia vs. Türkiye.
The big one
Today, we get our first big clash of the tournament, between five-time World Cup winners Brazil and Morocco, the side who surprised everyone with their run to the semifinals in Qatar.
The Atlas Lions have backed up that performance with a 100% record in qualifying again this time, and their run to the final of the 2025 AFCON, a title they were later awarded by CAF’s governing body. They do, however, come to the finals with a new manager in the dugout, with the untested Mohamed Ouahbi appointed to replace Walid Regragui, who resigned citing exhaustion in March.
The Seleção have something to prove at this World Cup, with Carlo Ancelotti looking to put them back on top after an indifferent few years. Brazil, who last lifted the trophy in 2002, have never gone more than five World Cups cycles without winning the whole thing. Is it time?
The Tartan Army are coming
Watch any of the local news reports coming out of Boston, and you’d think there had been a full scale invasion of kilt-wearing, hard drinking, bagpiping Scots. They just need to remember the Tartan Army is not a real army.
Steve Clarke’s side mark their return to the world stage with a game against Haiti, whose French coach, Sébastien Migné has never even visited, with all their home games moved abroad due to unrest in the country.
Haiti enter their first World Cup since 1974 but have also had to deal with a late kit change, with FIFA deeming their original shirts, which bore a tribute to Polish troops who helped Haitians fight for independence against Napoleon’s forces in the early 1800s, as too political.
Socceroos vs. Dark Horses
One side that is always determined to shake off their traditional dark horse tournament reputation is Türkiye, who come to North America with a side built around the twin young talents of Juve’s Kenan Yıldız and Real Madrid’s Arda Güler.
First up, they face Australia, now at their sixth successive World Cup, and looking to capitalise on a draw that they feel has been relatively kind to them (Group D, alongside USA and Paraguay).
