Pochettino’s Stunning World Cup Start

After Months of Tinkering, the USMNT Finally Looked Like It is Fulfilling Its Potential

Mauricio Pochettino's blueprint came together perfectly in the USMNT's 4-1 demolition of Paraguay, with the performance offering the clearest evidence yet of the attacking identity he has worked to build since taking over.

Rather than channeling everything through one outlet, the U.S. attacked from multiple directions, stretching Paraguay both wide and in behind their backline. Christian Pulisic was at the center of it, repeatedly isolating defenders down the left with his speed and dribbling, while also drifting infield to link with Weston McKennie and help the Americans overload central areas. Paraguay right back Juan Caceres had a miserable night trying to contain him, picking up an early yellow card out of sheer desperation.

The dominance wasn't built on individual moments alone. McKennie and Malik Tillman helped create numbers in midfield, while Sergiño Dest, though slower to get going, eventually made his mark with a pair of driving runs that turned defense into attack in an instant. And when Folarin Balogun finished off a defense-splitting ball from Tillman just before halftime, it showed the U.S. could hurt Paraguay through the middle just as easily as out wide.

With Paraguay's Julio Enciso and Antonio Sanabria starved of service and forced into low-quality chances, the U.S. controlled the game's territory and tempo for long stretches. After the first half effectively settled the contest, Pochettino began making changes, pulling Pulisic at the break and later subbing off Balogun and Dest, a sign he was already managing his squad with Australia looming on June 19.

The attacking intent never wavered, though. Even after Paraguay clawed one back, the U.S. carved out another chance late, capped by Gio Reyna's finish. For Pochettino, the result wasn't just three points, it was validation of the system he's been building.

Reyna’s Redemption

Playmaker Scored on a Audacious Attempt, Bringing the 2022 Drama Full Circle

Gio Reyna provided the perfect exclamation point to the USMNT's World Cup opener, and the moment carried meaning well beyond the scoreline.

Entering as an 82nd-minute substitute for Malik Tillman, Reyna needed just 16 minutes to make his mark. With the U.S. already cruising and deep into stoppage time, the team strung together a sweeping move that carried the ball from end to end without a single Paraguayan touch. Alex Freeman slid a pass to Reyna at the edge of the box, and with two touches to set himself up, he curled a trivela, struck with the outside of his right foot, past goalkeeper Orlando Gill and into the far corner. It was his first World Cup goal and the 10th of his international career, and it sent Pochettino sprinting down the touchline to join the celebration.

Reyna marked the occasion by tucking the ball under his jersey and sucking his thumb, the traditional gesture for an expectant father. He revealed afterward that his wife, Chloe, is pregnant with the couple's first child, news he'd been sitting on for a couple of months while waiting for the right moment. He credited Chloe and his parents, former USMNT players Claudio and Danielle, with pushing him to be more aggressive and take more chances when the opportunity arises.

The goal also represented a measure of redemption. Reyna arrived at this tournament as one of Pochettino's more debated selections, having struggled for minutes at his German club and carrying baggage from the drama that overshadowed his role at the 2022 World Cup. Teammates, however, weren't surprised by the quality. Pulisic noted that Reyna shows that kind of skill in training regularly, adding that it was rewarding to see him produce it on the biggest stage.

For Reyna, the explanation was simple: he reacted instinctively, recognized the angle to the far post and let it fly.

Balogun Shines

Forward Scored Twice, Showing Why He Committed to the U.S.

Folarin Balogun delivered the kind of World Cup debut American soccer fans have long dreamed of, scoring twice in the U.S.'s 4-1 demolition of Paraguay to become the first USMNT player with a multi-goal World Cup match since 1930.

Both goals showcased different facets of his game. The first came from a clinical first-time finish off a Pulisic cross, while the second, just before halftime, saw him hold off a defender, cut inside another and curl a shot into the top corner. Pulisic raved about his teammate afterward, saying Balogun is "lethal right now in front of the goal" and praising not just the finishing but his ability to battle center backs and win fouls. When Balogun was substituted in the 71st minute, the crowd gave him a standing ovation.

Balogun's path to this moment has been unconventional. Born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents, he moved to London within weeks of his birth and grew up entirely in England, becoming a standout in Arsenal's academy and representing England at the under-21 level. He was also eligible for Nigeria. But after struggling to break into Arsenal's first team, loan spells in France revived his career, and in 2023, he made the surprising decision to commit his international future to the United States.

Balogun has said the choice felt natural, calling it a "no-brainer" and describing the support from American fans as a major motivating factor in repaying that faith. His mother reportedly had long hoped he'd choose the U.S., a wish tied to circumstances around his birth in New York.

Since switching, Balogun has scored 11 goals in 28 USMNT appearances. Asked about his expectations heading into the tournament, he admitted that even his imagined debut didn't match what actually happened on the field Friday night.