USA kicked off their 2026 World Cup campaign in style with a dominant 4-1 win over Paraguay, while fellow co-hosts Canada battled for a draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina to earn their first ever point in a World Cup tournament.
The pageantry that accompanied the tournament opener between Mexico and South Africa continued on day two, with both North American co-hosts indulging in national pride with some spectacular opening ceremonies of their own.
With all three host nations now off the mark, it now feels like the 2026 World Cup has truly begun.
USA outclass Paraguay
Mauricio Pochettino’s USA side made a statement in Los Angeles, producing a commanding display that completely dismantled a hapless Paraguay.
Following a star-spangled opening ceremony headlined by Katy Perry, the co-hosts carried that energy onto the pitch and embraced the occasion.
They opened the scoring just seven minutes in when Paraguay defender Damian Bobadilla deflected the ball into his own net, setting USA on their way to dominate the match.
Folarin Balogun was on good form on the evening, scoring twice before half-time, essentially putting the win beyond doubt.
Paraguay managed to pull a goal back in the second half against the run of play, but no comeback was on the cards for the South American outfit.
Giovanni Reyna rounded off the scoring in added time to seal a 4-1 victory, rocketing the USA to the top of group D.
Players rise to the occasion but Pulisic substituted
Despite all the spectacle and over 70,000 fans in attendance, including some of the country’s biggest celebrities, the Americans thrived under the spotlight rather than shrank.
Playing with intensity, pace, and confidence, the USA looked incredibly dangerous – posing a threat few expected prior to the tournament’s start.
Balogun and captain Christian Pulisic combined brilliantly in attack, with the captain’s driving runs and direct play proving instrumental to their victory.
There was cause for concern when Pulisic was withdrawn at half-time as a precaution for a calf injury.
Home supporters will wish this was merely a protective substitution rather than a sign of a more serious problem for the winger.
The talismanic forward, nicknamed ‘Captain America’, will be central to any hope of a deep tournament run.
If the opening performance is anything to go off, the USA have both momentum and belief on their side, and in tournament football, that can take you a very long way.
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Canada break dismal World Cup record
Cyle Larin etched his name into Canadian history and hearts of supporters by scoring the goal that earned Canada their first-ever point at a FIFA World Cup tournament.
Canada had only ever appeared in two prior World Cups, 1986 and 2022, losing every match they played.
But this time, Jesse Marsch’s men broke that streak.
The Toronto crowd were lifted by a patriotic opening ceremony featuring performances from Alanis Morissette and Michael Buble, though the celebratory mood was dampened early on when Bosnia took the lead.
History appeared to be repeating itself as Jovo Lukic fired Bosnia ahead in the 21st minute, which left the hosts chasing the game.
Canada responded positively, taking control of the contest and testing the resilient Bosnian defence with some exciting attacking play.
The co-hosts were denied by the crossbar and some stellar last-ditch defending as they battled on for an equaliser.
With only 15 minutes remaining, Marsch turned to Southampton striker Larin to change the game.
Only two minutes after coming on, the substitute shot past Bosnian goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj to earn Canada a thoroughly deserved equaliser and kick off their tournament positively.
After an encouraging display, Canada will head into their next match against Qatar full of confidence.
Having created enough chances to win this encounter, they will believe all three points are within reach as they look to progress past Group B and into the Round of 32.
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