Before kick-off: define the sample first

OutcomematchesShare
USA wins0
Draws0
Paraguay wins0

FactUsing the explicit scope of completed 2026 World Cup matches before kick-off, the teams had met 0 times: 0 USA wins, 0 draws and 0 Paraguay wins. This is not presented as an all-time record.

FactThe comparison direction on this page is fixed: USA is the recorded home side, Paraguay the away side, and 4–1 is stored in that order. A later meeting would remain a separate event record.

Personnel: how the starting XI changed

FactUSA established its tournament starting baseline; Paraguay also established its opening baseline. Continuity is calculated from confirmed starters only.

FactUSA's opening baseline includes Matthew Freese, Alexander Freeman, Chris Richards; Paraguay's opening baseline includes Orlando Gill, Juan Cáceres, Gustavo Gómez. The names connect the continuity count to specific personnel.

The result: 4–1 and the decisive sequence

7′
Damián Bobadilla changes the score1–0
31′
Folarin Balogun changes the score2–0; assisted by Christian Pulišić
45′
Folarin Balogun changes the score3–0; assisted by Malik Tillman
73′
Mauricio changes the score3–1; assisted by Julio Enciso
90′
Giovanni Reyna changes the score4–1; assisted by Alexander Freeman

FactThe final score was USA 4–1 Paraguay. The verified scoring sequence was 7′ Damián Bobadilla、31′ Folarin Balogun、45′ Folarin Balogun、73′ Mauricio、90′ Giovanni Reyna. Score, sequence and line-up changes are facts; the mechanism inferred from them is labelled as analysis.

FactThe verification index for USA versus Paraguay fixes four fields: the 4–1 final score, the 2026 FIFA World Cup · Group D stage, the SoFi Stadium location and 5 scoring events. Together they identify this match without borrowing context from another fixture.

FactNode 1: Damián Bobadilla scored for USA in minute 7, setting the ledger at 1–0; Node 2: Folarin Balogun scored for USA in minute 31, setting the ledger at 2–0; Node 3: Folarin Balogun scored for USA in minute 45, setting the ledger at 3–0; Node 4: Mauricio scored for Paraguay in minute 73, setting the ledger at 3–1; Node 5: Giovanni Reyna scored for USA in minute 90, setting the ledger at 4–1

FactUSA's location key for this match is SoFi Stadium, shared by Paraguay; USA's 4 goals and Paraguay's 1 goals belong only to this venue and kick-off record.

Why this result made sense

AnalysisUSA versus Paraguay, 4–1: USA converted the lead against Paraguay into the 4-1 result. Aggregated player data shows a shot gap of 7 and a pass-completion gap of 12.4 percentage points; game-state management mattered more than any single possession number.

Evidence confidence92%