Di United States don start dia World Cup 2026 campaign with sweet 4-1 victory over Paraguay for SoFi Stadium for Los Angeles. But di win come with small worry as star man Christian Pulisic bin leave di field for half-time because of kick wey e receive for im calf.
Di game start with plenty energy from Mauricio Pochettino side. Paraguay own goal from Damian Bobadilla give US di lead. Pulisic bin show im quality as e race down left side and cut back ball give Folarin Balogun wey finish well. Balogun later add another goal to complete first half hat-trick, though one bin ruled out for offside.
At half-time, US lead 3-0. But Pulisic no come out for second half. Fans begin dey worry about di star winger. Pochettino later explain say Pulisic take hard kick for im calf and e start to feel tight. Di coach say dem no want take any risk because e dey difficult for am to walk.
Paraguay get hope when Miguel Almiron score for second half to make am 3-1. But Gio Reyna bin finish match with beautiful goal for di last kick, using outside of im foot to bend ball inside net. Dis give US 4-1 win and di most goals wey US ever score for one World Cup match.
Di match also get strange moment when US captain Tim Ream bin receive yellow card for challenge on Almiron. But VAR check show say Almiron dive. Referee Danny Makkelie rescind Ream yellow and instead give Almiron yellow for simulation. Dis dey unusual because VAR no suppose dey used for correcting yellow cards, but referee say na case of mistaken identity.
Despite di win, some fans dey worry about empty seats for stadium. Tickets dey expensive, between $1,940 and $2,735 for some categories. US President Donald Trump even tok say e no go pay such prices. SoFi Stadium get 70,000 capacity but no sell out.
Pulisic say imself say e dey positive about injury. E tok say e don get similar thing before and e no think say anything serious. E dey hope say e go fit play next match against Australia on June 19. Di last group match go be against Turkey on June 25, also for SoFi Stadium.
Pochettino say e dey proud of di team performance. E say di first half na amazing football and e dey happy say dem manage di expectation and pressure of hosting World Cup. But e warn say na only start and dem need to continue di good work.
Balogun wey score twice don lead di golden boot race for now. Di striker wey bin play for Arsenal and England U21 before switching to US, don show say e fit be di ruthless striker wey US dey look for.
