The 2026 FIFA World Cup has kicked off across the United States, Canada and Mexico. On opening day, host nation the United States routed Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, while fellow co-host Canada earned its first World Cup point in history with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In the United States-Paraguay clash, the hosts dominated almost from start to finish. Paraguay defender Damian Bobadilla opened the scoring with an own goal, and Folarin Balogun followed with a first-half brace to send the Americans into the break ahead. The numbers told the story: the U.S. held 65% possession, took 16 shots with six on target and completed 85% of its passes; Paraguay managed just 35% possession, nine attempts and only one on target. The 4-1 result was also the first time the United States had scored four goals in a single World Cup match.
Late on, substitute Giovanni Reyna put the icing on the cake. Picking up the ball on the edge of the box, he carried it two paces across the area and curled it home with the outside of his boot to make it 4-1. It was a goal of genuine quality, and spoke to a U.S. squad built with finishers up front and creators linking play behind them. The crowd noise barely relented—for the hosts, their opening group-stage fixture felt less like a football match and more like the start of a party.
The pace was different on Canada's side. Bosnia took the lead from a set piece, Jovo Lukic heading home from close range, and they battled fiercely in defense throughout. Canada had to wait until the closing stages for Cyle Larin—the substitute scored via a deflection around the 78th minute to earn the Canucks a 1-1 draw. For Canada, that point was more than just a stalemate; it was the nation's first World Cup point in history, carrying far greater weight than the scoreline alone.
By FIFA ranking, the United States are 16th, Canada 30th, Paraguay 40th and Bosnia-Herzegovina 65th; Bosnia have climbed six places recently, and their defensive resilience was on full display in this match. Among the three co-hosts, the United States set a bold tone for the home tournament with their attacking firepower, while Canada salvaged morale with a late equaliser. With two group-stage rounds still to come, whether the US can carry their opening-day form forward and whether Canada can turn that first point into confidence for the next match will be the key storylines to watch for the host nations.
