USA score four in a World Cup game for the first time as Canada earn historic first point

The United States produced a record-breaking World Cup opener on Friday, beating Paraguay 4-1 at Los Angeles Stadium to score four goals in a men’s World Cup match for the first time in their history. Hours earlier in Toronto, Canada earned their first-ever point at a men’s World Cup by drawing 1-1 with Bosnia and Herzegovina, capping a landmark Day 2 for the co-hosts.

United States 4-1 Paraguay

Folarin Balogun was the standout performer for the USMNT, scoring twice to become the first American man to net a brace in a World Cup match since Bert Patenaude in 1930. Both goals came on his World Cup debut, making him the first American to score on his first World Cup appearance in the modern era.

Gio Reyna added a goal — his 10th for the national team and his first in a World Cup — which also became the latest regulation-time goal the United States have ever scored in a World Cup match, surpassing Landon Donovan’s famous stoppage-time strike against Algeria. Paraguay defender Damian Bobadilla contributed an own goal that ranked as the third-fastest goal the United States have ever benefited from at a men’s World Cup.

The four-goal margin eclipsed the country’s previous best World Cup winning margin, set by two 3-0 victories back in 1930.

Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina

Canada’s historic moment came through Cyle Larin, whose equaliser cancelled out Jovo Lukić’s opener and ended a run of seven World Cup appearances without a single point — a record they had shared with El Salvador. It was only the second World Cup goal ever scored by a Canadian player, following Alphonso Davies’ strike at Qatar 2022, and the first time Canada have ever come from behind in a World Cup match.

Larin’s goal was his 31st for the national team, moving him to second on Canada’s all-time men’s scoring list behind Jonathan David (39), and his first international goal since October 2024.

Lukić, meanwhile, made his own piece of history for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Scoring in just his fourth international appearance, he became the first player since France’s Randal Kolo Muani at the 2022 World Cup to score his first career World Cup goal within his first four caps.

Jesse Marsch also entered the record books as the first American-born manager to lead a foreign nation at a men’s World Cup. The draw moved his Canada record to 13W-14L-5D overall, and left his side unbeaten in their last seven matches against UEFA opposition. Bosnia and Herzegovina, for their part, extended their own unbeaten run to nine matches, with their last defeat coming against Austria in October.