USMNT Kicks Off 2026 World Cup with Early Own Goal Against Paraguay
Published June 13, 2026
The United States Men's National Team secured their first goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in their opening match against Paraguay, though it came courtesy of an own goal from Paraguayan defender Damián Bobadilla.
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The 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, saw the USMNT get on the scoreboard early in their inaugural match against Paraguay on Friday, June 12. Playing in front of a home crowd at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, the Americans took a 1-0 lead just seven minutes into the game, setting an energetic tone for their tournament campaign.
The breakthrough, however, was not directly scored by a U.S. player. The sequence began with star midfielder Christian Pulisic, who skillfully navigated past two Paraguayan defenders inside the penalty area. He then delivered a pass to Weston McKennie, who attempted to find forward Folarin Balogun. Instead, the ball deflected off the right foot of Paraguay's Damián Bobadilla and into his own net, much to the delight of the heavily pro-U.S. spectators.
The unexpected goal sent the stadium into a roar as the U.S. squad celebrated their early advantage, while Bobadilla visibly grappled with the unfortunate deflection. This early strike marked only the third fastest goal ever recorded by the U.S. in World Cup history. Furthermore, it was reportedly the first time in two decades that the USMNT benefited from an own goal in the prestigious global tournament.