USA start World Cup in style – but will they finally join the elite?Figure caption, Balogun gets his second and USA’s third against ParaguayByGary RoseBBC Sport journalist at Los Angeles StadiumPublished1 hour agoIf there were any doubts that the USA were ready to live up to the pressure of being one of the hosts of the 2026 World Cup, they were dispelled in 45 brilliant minutes against Paraguay on Saturday.Following a glitzy build-up which featured a performance from Katy Perry, watched on by Hollywood A-listers like Tom Cruise in the stands and with thousands of fans decked out in the stars and stripes, they would have been forgiven for wilting under the pressure.Instead they stepped up as three goals in a whirlwind first half, before a sublime fourth by Gio Reyna in stoppage time, secured a 4-1 win to ensure a perfect start in Group D.
But even before this display there were some who had recognised the potential of a USA side who have developed significantly under ex-Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino over the past 20 months.
Former USA goalkeeper Tony Meola is one pundit who has suggested they are now on their way to being able to rub shoulders with football’s elite.
“Now we are so much more established,” reported Meola, who was part of the US squad at the 1990, 1994 and 2002 World Cups.
“We have players playing all round the world, we have an incredible league and have facilities the world is using right now. Those were a pipe dream a few years ago, now we are a football nation.”
This was the first time since 1930 that the USA has won a World Cup game by three goals and it is a result that may well make other teams at this tournament sit up and notice.
“USA were unbelievable,” England great Ellen White reported on BBC Match of the Day.
“You talk about pressure but they grasped at it, they enjoyed it. They probably shocked the world with that performance.”
