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Posted: Jun 12, 2026 10:10 PMUpdated: Jun 12, 2026 11:10 PM

USA Wins, Bartlesville Cheers

 

The United States opened the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a statement Friday night, rolling past Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Team USA jumped on Paraguay early and never really let up. Looks like the US squad decided the best way to start a World Cup on home soil was by hitting the gas pedal and ignoring the brakes entirely. Folarin Balogun led the charge with two goals, while Gio Reyna added a late goal to slam the door shut on an impressive opening-night performance.

Christian Pulisic and Balogun turned in some of the best performances of the night, helping lead an aggressive U.S. attack that kept pressure on Paraguay from start to finish. Pulisic controlled the pace offensively while Balogun looked every bit like the striker Team USA has been searching for over the last several years. For once, American soccer fans were able to enjoy a World Cup opener without immediately stress-eating by halftime.

Back in Bartlesville, fans gathered at Custer Stadium for the World Cup Watch Party and brought plenty of energy of their own. Families, soccer fans, and a few people who only tune in every four years came to the stadium to watch the Americans cruise to victory. The crowd stayed loud from kickoff to final whistle, proving World Cup fever has officially landed in Bartlesville.

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