Balogun's Historic World Cup Goals
Folarin Balogun Becomes First US Player Since 1930 With Multiple World Cup Goals
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Folarin Balogun scored twice as the United States opened the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 4-1 win over Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California AP News. The 24-year-old Brooklyn-born striker became the first American to net multiple goals in a single World Cup match since Bert Patenaude's hat trick against — coincidentally — Paraguay in 1930, ending a 96-year drought US Soccer.
The victory was also a first in another way. The U.S. had never scored four goals in a World Cup game across 34 previous tournament matches FOX Sports. A sold-out crowd of 70,492 watched history unfold at the stadium, which is temporarily called Los Angeles Stadium for the tournament.
Balogun's Brace Ends a 96-Year American Drought
Balogun's first goal came in the 31st minute — a clean first-time finish set up by captain Christian Pulisic Goal.com. He then danced past two defenders and fired into the top corner just before halftime to complete his brace. No American had done that in a World Cup since Patenaude's famous 1930 hat trick, also against Paraguay US Soccer.
After the match, Balogun described the night in simple terms. "I visualized my debut in the World Cup scoring, but the reality did surpass that. A very dreamy night," he told reporters AP News. Pulisic, who assisted the first goal to tie him for 4th all-time in U.S. assists with 21, was equally effusive. "The kid's insane. He's lethal right now. We're really lucky to have him," Pulisic said AP News.
How the Goals Fell: A Dominant First Half, Then a Scare
The U.S. struck early. In the 7th minute, Paraguay's Damián Bobadilla turned a Weston McKennie cross into his own net FOX Sports. Balogun then added goals in the 31st and 45th minutes to make it 3-0 at the break. It looked like a rout.
The second half brought concern. Pulisic was subbed off at halftime with a minor injury Diario AS. Paraguay then pulled one back in the 73rd minute through MaurÃcio, exploiting a defensive lapse. But Gio Reyna, coming off the bench, sealed the win in the 90th minute with a curling strike from the edge of the area The Guardian. Coach Mauricio Pochettino called the first 45 minutes "amazing" but acknowledged the work still ahead.
Balogun's Long Road to Wearing the U.S. Shirt
Balogun was born in Brooklyn but grew up in London. That made him eligible for England, Nigeria, and the United States. He officially chose the U.S. in May 2023 after a breakout season in France's Ligue 1 US Soccer. For years, American soccer lacked what coaches call an "elite Number 9" — a forward who scores regularly at the highest level. Balogun's performance suggested that wait may be over.
The last American greats — Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Brian McBride — never scored twice in one World Cup game. Balogun did it in his very first AP News. Pochettino was brief but clear after the match: "So, so proud. The players, the staff, deserve big credit."
What Comes Next: Pulisic's Health and the Road to Seattle
The U.S. now leads Group D with 3 points and a plus-3 goal difference. Their next match is against Australia in Seattle on June 19 US Soccer. The biggest question before that game is Pulisic's fitness. Pochettino described the injury as "minor," but the team has not ruled out further tests Diario AS.
Analysts noted a second-half defensive lapse as something to fix before tougher opponents arrive FOX Sports. Pochettino himself kept expectations grounded. "It's only one game," he said. "It's nothing yet." Still, the narrative in U.S. media has already shifted — from "can they compete?" to "how far can they go?" Goal.com.
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