Behind the Numbers: USMNT Impresses in Victories against Paraguay, Australia at FIFA World Cup 2026

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·22 Juni 2026

Behind the Numbers: USMNT Impresses in Victories against Paraguay, Australia at FIFA World Cup 2026

The U.S. Men’s National Team has impressed in its first two matches of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The Stars and Stripes have already confirmed their position as Group D winners, sealing their position in the knockout stage thanks to statistically dominant victories against Paraguay in Los Angeles and Australia in Seattle.

Before its Group D finale against an already-eliminated Türkiye side this Thursday back in Los Angeles, take a look at the numbers that influenced the USMNT’s two exciting victories.

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United States 4 – 1 Paraguay (June 12, Los Angeles Stadium)

The USMNT kicked off its FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a resounding 4-1 victory against Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium. The key metrics to come out of Inglewood, Calif. included Folarin Balogun becoming the first USMNT player since Bert Patenaude (1930) to score multiple goals for the U.S. in a World Cup match, and Chris Richards returning from injury and posting a whopping 100% passing accuracy rate on his 83 attempts.

53 - The #USMNT's 53 touches in the attacking box vs. Paraguay on Friday were tied for the eighth-most in a FIFA World Cup match since 1966 and 17 more than any other match for the U.S. in the competition in that time. Overwhelming.
– Sabtu, 13 Juni 2026

TEAM

The USMNT won a World Cup match by three goals for the third time with the previous two happening in 1930 (3-0 vs. Belgium in 1930, 3-0 vs. Paraguay in 1930).
This is the first time the U.S. has scored four goals in a World Cup match.
The United States’ opening goal in the seventh minute was the third-fastest goal scored by a host nation in their opening match at the World Cup (France 1’ in 1938, Germany 6’ in 2006).
The Stars and Stripes held 66.7% possession in the first hour of the match. The only World Cup match since 1966 in which U.S. held more possession over the course of a full match was against Poland in 2002 (68.3%).
The United States’ 53 touches in the attacking box against Paraguay on Friday were tied for the eighth-most in a FIFA World Cup match since 1966 and 17 more than any other match for the U.S. in the competition in that time.
The U.S. led by three goals at halftime of a World Cup match for the first time.
This is the third-fastest the U.S. has scored two goals in a FIFA World Cup match, only doing so faster vs. Portugal in 2002 (29') and Paraguay in 1930 (15').
The U.S. named a player from each of the five major European leagues in a World Cup starting XI for the first time.

23 – USA's Tim Ream made more line-breaking passes than any other centre back on MD1 of the FIFA World Cup (23). Ream was the oldest defender to make an appearance in the opening round (38y 251d), and fourth oldest outfielder to feature overall. Savvy.
– Kamis, 18 Juni 2026

INDIVIDUAL

Five USMNT starters made their World Cup debut: Chris Richards, Folarin Balogun, Alex Freeman, Matt Freese and Malik Tillman. Additionally, Sebastian Berhalter and Ricardo Pepi made their World Cup debut after entering as substitutes.
Chris Richards completed all 83 of his passes, the most passes with a 100% accuracy rate by any player in a World Cup match since 1966.
At 38 years, 250 days old, Tim Ream became the oldest player to appear for the USMNT in a World Cup match.
Mauricio Pochettino became the 11th different coach to guide the USMNT in a World Cup match.
Christian Pulisic now has four career goal contributions in the World Cup (1 goal, 3 assists), tied with Clint Dempsey for second-most for the USA since 1966 (Landon Donovan - 5).
Christian Pulisic’s three assists are the most for any USMNT player in World Cup play.
Folarin Balogun’s goal in the 31st minute marked his first career goal at the World Cup.
Folarin Balogun became the second player to score multiple goals in a World Cup match for the U.S. after Bert Patenaude, also against Paraguay, in 1930 (3 goals).
Folarin Balogun is the 26th different player to score for the USMNT in the World Cup and only the second to have a multi-goal game in the competition.
Sebastian Berhalter made his FIFA World Cup debut, entering the match at halftime to replace Pulisic. The Berhalters are now the second family to have a father and son represent the USMNT in a World Cup.
Matt Freese (New York City FC) became the first active MLS player to start in goal for the USMNT in the World Cup.
Tim Ream completed 23 line-breaking passes, the most by any player in a match so far at this year’s tournament and the most by a defender in a World Cup match since John Pantsil for Ghana against the U.S.in 2010 (extra time).
At the first hydration break, Paraguay (34) had completed just four more passes than Tim Ream (30).

United States 2 – 0 Australia (June 19, Seattle Stadium)

Against fellow unbeaten Group D side Australia, the USMNT confirmed a spot in the knockout stage thanks to another fast start and controlling first half of action at a sold-out Seattle Stadium. Notably, Chris Richards continued to excel in his distribution success, and Alex Freeman continued his meteoric rise with a historic headed goal.

77.5% - Through two matches, 77.5 percent of the passes in the attacking third in matches involving the #USMNT have been in the U.S.'s attacking third. Bearing.
– Sabtu, 20 Juni 2026

TEAM

The USMNT won two consecutive matches at the World Cup for the second time and first since winning their first two matches in the competition in 1930.
The six points the USMNT earned through its first two group stage matches represent the most points for the U.S. in a group stage of any World Cup.
The U.S. became the first team in the history of the World Cup to benefit from an own goal in two consecutive matches.
The shutout victory represented the USMNT’s eighth World Cup clean sheet.
The USMNT's last eight World Cup goals (excluding own goals) have been scored by players under 25 years old, equaling the longest such streak in competition history (Poland - 8 straight between 1938 and 1974).
The USMNT has scored in their last four World Cup matches, the longest run of games with a goal in the competition since a run of eight matches from June 17, 2006, to June 22, 2014.
The U.S. has opened the scoring in consecutive World Cup matches for the first time since the first two matches in 2002 (vs. Portugal and Korea Republic).
This contest marked the fifth time the USMNT has led by two or more goals at halftime of a World Cup match, with two of those coming in the current edition (also 3-0 at HT on MD1 v Paraguay).
The U.S. scored multiple goals in the first half of two straight World Cup matches for the first time since their first two matches in the competition in 1930.
The USMNT scored three goals in the last 15 minutes of the first half – no team has more in this year’s World Cup.
The U.S. is the second host nation to score in the first 15 minutes in each of their first two matches of the tournament, after France in 1938.
The U.S. has benefitted from five own goals in the World Cup – including two in 2026 – the second-highest tally behind France (6).
The USMNT moved to a perfect 7-0-0 at Seattle Stadium and 10-1-1 all-time in Seattle, Wash.
The seven yellow cards shown in the match were the most in any match so far at this year’s tournament.
Concacaf nations have netted 17 goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, already the most ever in a single edition (Canada 7, U.S. 6, Mexico 3, Curaçao 1).

175 - 🇺🇸 Chris Richards has completed 97.8% of his passes at the FIFA World Cup (175/179). That is the second best accuracy by a player in their first two appearances on record since 1966 (min. 100 passes), behind 🇷🇴 Gheorghe Popescu in 1994 (122/124 - 98.4%). Accomplished.
– Jumat, 19 Juni 2026

INDIVIDUAL

Two players made their World Cup debuts off the bench: Auston Trusty and Joe Scally. Additionally, Ricardo Pepi earned his first World Cup start.
With his first World Cup goal, Alex Freeman became the sixth-youngest World Cup goal scorer in USMNT history behind Bert Patenaude, James Brown, Landon Donovan, John Brooks and Julian Green. The goal was the third of Freeman’s international career.
Chris Richards has completed 97.8% of his passes (175/179) in the tournament, the second-highest passing accuracy (min. 100 attempts) by any player in their first two career World Cup appearances among players to debut in 1966 or later, after Gheorghe Popescu (122/124 – 98.4%) of Romania in 1990.
Alex Freeman became the first defender to score a goal for the USMNT in the World Cup since John Brooks against Ghana in 2014. That Brooks goal was also the Stars and Stripes’ last headed goal at a FIFA World Cup before Freeman’s.
Matt Freese became the sixth USMNT goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet at the World Cup, joining Jimmy Douglas (2), Frank Borghi, Brad Friedel, Tim Howard and Matt Turner (2).
The U.S. has scored seven goals in the 261 minutes that Ricardo Pepi and Folarin Balogun have been on the pitch together, an average of a goal every 37 minutes.
Chris Richards attempted 95 passes in the match, the highest total for a United States player in this year’s tournament.
Chris Richards is the seventh player to complete 80+ passes in each of his first two World Cup matches among players that debuted in 1966 or later, along with three Spanish players (Isco, Aymeric Laporte, Rodri), two German players (Antonio Rüdiger, Niklas Süle) and Argentina's Fernando Redondo.

Türkiye – United States (June 25, Los Angeles Stadium)

The USMNT will conclude its group stage slate with a matchup against Türkiye back at Los Angeles Stadium on Thursday. The match may feature some roster rotation, as the USMNT has already confirmed its position atop Group D and Türkiye is eliminated after dropping its first two group stage fixtures.

8 - The #USMNT's last eight FIFA World Cup goals (excluding own goals) have been scored by players under 25 years old, equaling the longest such streak in competition history (Poland - 8 straight between 1938 and 1974). Exuberance.
– Jumat, 19 Juni 2026

Türkiye and the USMNT are meeting for the first time in a FIFA World Cup match.
The all-time series is an even 2-2-1, with all five fixtures being determined by one goal or fewer. Across the 34-year series, each side has scored seven goals.
Türkiye has lost both of its matches to open FIFA World Cup 2026 play, firing off a combined 62 shots but failing to score in either contest.
The USMNT has scored six goals so far this World Cup, tied for the second-most goals scored by the U.S. in a single World Cup. The record for the USMNT is seven, last achieved in 1930 and 2002.
Alex Freeman enters the match as the only USMNT player to tally both a goal and an assist at this year’s tournament.