U.S. wins 4-1 against Paraguay in its first match of 2026 FIFA World Cup

Giovanni Reyna #7 of the United States scores his team's fourth goal. Alex Livesey - FIFA / FIFA via Getty Images

There was time for one more moment of magic in the dying embers of this game, and it came courtesy of Gio Reyna.

The U.S. midfielder struck the ball beautifully from the right, just inside the 18-yard-box, with the outside of his boot to curl one in and put an exclamation mark on this game.

It was the last play of the game and USA takes all three points in its first match.

Ricardo Pepi, subbed on as the striker for Folarin Bolagun, just missed a chance to see out this game a bit more comfortably.

McKennie's cut-back from the left found Pepi all alone in the box, but he could only fire over the bar.

Fellow sub Sebastian Berhalter also missed his attempt at catching Orlando Gill off his line.

Thankfully for both of them, this game is in its dying stages.

The officials have announced that there'll be seven minutes of stoppage time.

Just as soon as the U.S. made two subs, Paraguay has cut the deficit to 3-1.

It was a simple ball over the top that bounced around the U.S. box, and Maurício slotted in off the assist from Julio Enciso.

Paraguay's midfielder #11 Mauricio celebrates scoring his team's first goal.  Frederic J. Brown / AFP via Getty Images

A stadium that was in bedlam during the first half has gone quiet, and that was the case even before Mauricio scored for Paraguay in the 73rd minute. The U.S. hasn't had nearly the same amount of possession this half, and without as much drama about the score, the energy inside this building has become more subdued.

Tyler Adams of the U.S. was just shown a yellow card. It's been one of the few things that hasn't gone the Americans' way this game.

The Pulisic substitution is a curious one.

He was giving the Paraguayan backline fits in the opening 45 minutes, combining well with Antonee Robinson and registering an assist for his efforts.

It's unclear if this is a substitution forced by injury; with the Americans comfortably in the lead, it could very well be Pochettino trying to rest his star man to ensure he has fresh legs in the next game.

But Paraguay is growing into the game and Pulisic's spark on from the left has clearly been missed in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

Instead of a yellow card on U.S. defender Tim Ream, officials switched the card to Paraguay's Miguel Almirón after using a replay review. Effectively, the replay showed that Almirón dived. The ruling earned some quizzical looks in the stands when "Mistaken Identity" was displayed on the giant halo videoboard here.

Coach Mauricio Pochettino has taken off star Christian Pulisic, who was taken out of the match at halftime.

Sebastian Berhalter entered in place of Pulisic, who has played a huge role in the Americans' first half of dominance

The United States is 45 disaster-free minutes away from three points, but there's still more for Americans to claim than just a win.

After head-to-head results, goal differential is the next tiebreaker for group placement, and that could be crucial.

The winner of America's Group D would get to play a knockout match against a third-place squad from Group B, E, F, I or J. The Group D runner-up would probably face a stronger side in the second-place finisher of Group G.

So it would behoove the Americans to be bad sports and stay on the front foot.

The U.S. has taken a 3-0 lead at the half in its Wold Cup opener against Paraguay, and it's hard to argue against Andrés Cantor's assessment: "Without fear of being mistaken: The best 45 minutes of the Pochettino era."

The Stars and Stripes have been dominant in possession, efficient in their finishing and intense going forward as they continue carving the Paraguayan backline open almost at will.

General view inside Los Angeles Stadium. Matt McNulty - FIFA / FIFA via Getty Images

The largest margin of victory by a U.S. men's team at the World Cup is 3-0, which has happened twice (including a match against Paraguay, in 1930). We mention that to put into context how dominant this half of soccer was that saw the U.S. go up 3-0 in just the first 50 minutes, including stoppage time, while having multiple opportunities to be up even more.

That first 45 minutes could not have been better for USA.

The Americans are dominating possession, controlling the ball for 75% of the first half.

Paraguay has barely sniffed the U.S. area, with the Americans leading in attempts on goal, 8-2, and shots on target, 4-0.

The match's only two corner kicks have been taken by the Americans.

What a way to end the half for the U.S., with Folarin Balogun's second goal to move the U.S. ahead, 3-0. Videoboards inside the stadium displayed that Balogun's kick traveled at 61 mph.

Folarin Balogun, just before the halftime whistle, drilled his second goal of the night. He was fed a great ball just outside the box, made one move left and scored in the upper left corner.

Richards, a USMNT defender, was up in the box for the latest corner attempt in the 37th minute. He took the cross in and headed the ball but it skirted just wide right of the goal.

The U.S. has had the ball so often in Paraguay's half of the field that this U.S.-centric crowd has been waiting for a moment to explode, and they thought they had it on a second goal by Folarin Balogun. It took a few seconds, but the realization that the U.S. had been offside began to dawn as the goal did not count.

Only minutes later, however, Balogun was left open yet again, right in the middle of the field, as he tapped in a pass from Christian Pulisic to a roar of noise. Paraguay is a gritty team, and this controlling opening half has been hugely impressive by the U.S.

Folarin Balogun, a dual national from England, has been huge today. Moments after having a goal called back for offside, he just drilled one on a pass from Christian Pulisic.

2-0 USA in the 31st minute.

The Americans were rightly whistled for offside.

The flag initially stayed down as Folarin Balogun appeared to put the United States up, 2-0.

But the USMNT's celebration was muted, perhaps knowing the flag was about to come up. Not only did it look like Balogun was a step ahead, but Pulisic might have been offside on the buildup.

The United States couldn't have asked for a better start as the match hits the hydration break.

The USMNT has possessed the ball for about 70% of the action and forced four Paraguay fouls compared to just two by the Americans.

The U.S. leads, 1-0, on an own goal created by the attacking Pulisic and McKennie.

When the U.S. somewhat unexpectedly got its passing to break through the last line of Paraguay's defense, and the ball found Sergiño Dest on the right side with a chance to shoot, this stadium sounded like it was revving up for a potential 2-0 lead. When Dest couldn't corral the touch in time for a clean look, a collective groan soon followed.

Chris Richards is down for the USMNT after colliding hard with a Paraguay player going for a header on a corner kick. He was looked at by the training staff on the sideline but is now back on the pitch.

Christian Pulisic #10 and Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States celebrate their side's first goal. Dean Mouhtaropoulos / Getty Images

After Paraguay deflected an own-goal, the press-box level inside this stadium shook slightly from the celebration of a 1-0 U.S. lead in the seventh minute of the game. The atmosphere inside here already was feeling raucous at kickoff, and the goal only increased the noise.

The Americans drew first blood in just the seventh minute in their World Cup opener against Paraguay.

Christian Pulisic split a pair of defenders and his cross found the foot of Weston McKennie before the ball bounced off Paraguay's Damián Bobadilla for an own goal and a 1-0 USMNT lead.

Los Angeles Stadium today. Harry How / Getty Images

The World Cup is officially back on American soil for the first time since 1994.

Vaughn Dalzell and Drew Dinsick discuss their best United States vs. Paraguay bets ahead of the Group D opener on Friday night and why they believe the hosts will cruise to victory in Los Angeles.

Katy Perry performs at the Opening Ceremony. Jose Breton / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Perry just performed and now the official ball is being placed on the field. Both flags are being unveiled. We're moments away from USA vs. Paraguay.

After "Ted Lasso" star Jason Sudeikis — a FIFA "ambassador" — addressed this stadium while standing at midfield, a parade of 48 flags has begun, one for each nation in this tournament, of course.

From my vantage point in the press box, the stadium doesn't have any large swaths of empty seats.

Katy Perry is currently singing.

If USA makes history at this home soil World Cup, it'll likely come from a super effort by goalkeeper Matt Freese.

The New York City FC keeper will get the starting assignment in this World Cup opener even though he's not universally backed by U.S. fans, many of whom favor veteran Matt Turner.

The New England Revolution GK played every minute of America's 2022 World Cup, surrendering just one goal in three group contests before the U.S. lost its knockout game, 3-1, to the Netherlands.

The U.S. just walked onto the field for warm-ups and were greeted by huge cheers here inside the stadium.

Since I arrived three hours before kickoff, there has been a huge amount of excitement from fans, some of whom said they paid as much as $2,000 apiece for three tickets. Notably, several fans said they scooped up their tickets only in the past week as they waited for prices to go down.

In Qatar four years ago, the U.S. team felt isolated, a time difference and geographic separation that removed some of the energy around the team but also meant its miscues didn’t reverberate quite as loudly. That won’t be the case in this tournament. A sellout crowd in Chicago’s Soldier Field watched the team’s loss in a friendly last week against Germany. When the U.S. team opened a raffle for fans to attend Monday’s training session in Irvine, it got 32,000 applications for 5,500 spots.

“I think the group is in a really good place at the minute,” center back Tim Ream said Monday. “I think we’ve all been, I wouldn’t say overwhelmed, but pleasantly surprised by the excitement and the buzz around the team and in the stadiums. Pulling up here with 5,500 fans ready to watch a training session is incredible.”

The United States and Paraguay met late last year, and the Yanks delivered a 2-1 friendly win with Giovanni Reyna a star of the show.

The stakes are much higher here, with the Yanks hoping to get a nice, long host nation run while La Albirroja play their first World Cup game since a quarterfinal run in 2010.

The World Cup atmosphere always raises intensity and Paraguay will be a stiffer test this time around, but the Yanks firepower should be enough, provided they finish their chances. USMNT 2-1 Paraguay.

As a player for Argentina's national team, Mauricio Pochettino scored just one competitive goal, and it came against Paraguay during a World Cup qualifying in October 2001.

A quarter-century later, Pochettino is the coach of the U.S. national team as it takes on Paraguay in both teams' World Cup opener.

Argentina's Mauricio Pochettino celebrates after scoring against Paraguay in a World Cup qualifying match in 2001.  Jorge Adorno / Reuters file

No major surprises in coach Mauricio Pochettino's squad for the first match, but fans will be relieved by confirmation that star defender Chris Richards is available.

And here's Paraguay's starting XI:

McKennie, 27, is a U.S. midfielder who is plenty familiar with the high stakes of international soccer. At 17, he made his debut in the German Bundesliga for Schalke. By 21, he’d joined Juventus in Italy’s Serie A, becoming the first American ever to play for the storied club. At 23, he joined the English Premier League with Leeds before he returned to Italy and Juventus, where he has spent the last four seasons. He’s also no stranger to the Champions League, having scored 11 goals.

McKennie is coming off his best season as a pro, and the U.S. must hope his role as a connector between defense and offense will carry over from Serie A. In its last World Cup appearance in 2022, the U.S. mustered just three goals in four matches.

Weston Mckennie during the friendly match against Germany on June 6 in Chicago. Andrew J. Clark / ISI Photos via Getty Images

Former USA goalie Brad Guzan joins Dan Patrick to talk about how the team can set themselves up well for this World Cup, the growth of soccer in the U.S. and more.

Cyle Larin’s goal not only saved the World Cup opener for Canada today, it gave a bunch of Canadian celebrities a reason to stomp and shout.

“Deadpool” star and Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds, NHL standout Connor McDavid and actor Mike Myers were among the Canadian stars spotted among the announced 43,002 fans at BMO Field for the first men’s World Cup match on Canadian soil.

Myers sported a Canada jersey and a red bucket hat.

“Mike Myers was here? Oh sweet,” Canada coach Jesse Marsch said. “I saw (music producer) Boi-1da on the TV at one point. I know that there’s a lot of different people that are enjoying the World Cup in Canada, but my job, I’m focused, so lasered in on just making sure that we can give the country a team to be proud of.”

When the U.S. men’s national team opens its World Cup bid on Friday in Los Angeles, all eyes will be on Christian Pulisic. The 27-year-old star is widely considered the most talented American player of his generation and — right or wrong — tasked with delivering the best result in the history of the country this summer on home soil. 

He says he’s not letting that pressure get to him. 

“I think no matter what, wherever you’re playing, in the World Cup there’s pressure,” Pulisic, nicknamed “Captain America,” told NBC News in February at his professional club AC Milan’s training facility. “I’m just going to try to live in the moment and enjoy the best I can.”

Christian Pulisic. Richard Heathcote / FIFA via Getty Images

Today's Group D matchup in Inglewood, California, is the first time Paraguay and the U.S. have played one another in the World Cup since the very first tournament, in 1930. That year, Bert Patenaude scored a hat trick for the U.S. in a 3-0 win. It remains tied for the largest margin of victory in the U.S. team's World Cup history.

Overall in World Cup play, the U.S. is 9-20-8. Paraguay is 7-10-10.

Weston McKennie describes this season of his life as “challenging and maturing,” focusing on “growing day to day and year to year” on and off the pitch.

“Just bettering my game and bettering my life outside. Trying to stay true to my values and whatnot,” the 27-year-old midfielder tells TODAY.com ahead of the World Cup.

It’s a major moment in the athlete’s life as he and the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team compete in the global soccer tournament, hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. The World Cup kicks off June 11, but the national team will have its first game today against Paraguay in Los Angeles, which is expected to be an emotional and pride-filled moment for McKennie.

Read the full article here.

Joe Prince-Wright, Nick Mendola, and Andy Edwards preview the USMNT's first match of the 2026 World Cup against Paraguay on Friday.

As the World Cup kicks off, some die-hard soccer supporters are sharing their unique fan traditions. NBC News’ Jesse Kirsch reports.

Die-hard soccer fans share their unique traditions as the World Cup kicks off

04:17

Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Sead Kolašinac might have had the biggest impact of the day, as the country tied Canada 1-1. In the first half, Kolašinac made a subtly brilliant play on a Bosnia-Herzegovina corner kick. As the ball curled into the box, Kolašinac headed the ball onward to his teammate, Jovo Lukić, who headed it again, this time into the back of the net.

Then in the second half, clinging to a 1-0 lead, Canada was threatening inside the Bosnia-Herzegovina box, and the ball was rolling free, heading toward the net, when Kolašinac made a quick move and cleared it off the crossbar.

Kolašinac helped set up a goal and save another. Nice day's work.

Larin came on for Canada as a substitution in the second half and scored its lone goal today. He also had a few other chances in the second half.

Born in Brampton, Ontario, to a Jamaican family, Larin has spent some time in the States, playing college soccer at UConn and playing for Orlando City in the MLS.

He currently plays for Southampton, with whom he’s scored nine goals in 22 appearances. He's also now scored 31 goals in 91 matches for the Canadian national team.

Fun match between one of the three hosts, Canada, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Jovo Lukić opened the scoring in the 21st minute before Cyle Larin equalized in the 78th.

Canada largely had control, controlling possession for 61% of the action and winning in expected goals 1.25 to 0.98. But Bosnia-Herzegovina held strong to force the draw.

Canada had a late chance in the box, but a Cyle Larin shot was blocked by a defender, preventing a go-ahead goal.

Can either team break the 1-1 tie?

There are 10 minutes to go in the second half, and we should be looking at a fun finish as the teams have traded major chances for much of the last 35 minutes.

What a strike from Cyle Larin, who ties this match with a strong right-footed shot from the top of the box that deflected off a defender and into the bottom-right corner of the net.

Larin had just subbed into the game a few minutes prior.

Both sides continue to put pressure on each other. The score in expected goals is now 0.94 for Canada and 0.97 for Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Canadians continue to dominate possession.

Early in the second half, Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Sead Kolašinac made an incredible play to preserve a 1-0 lead for his team.

If you've been watching this Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina match from the start, you could track the movement of the shadow line across the field. Canada just had a chance in front of the Bosnia-Herzegovina net, right around that shadow line on the field, and couldn't get a clean pass or shot off in the box. Wonder if the sun will come into play at some point.

We’ve seen collisions, corner kicks, balls hit the crossbar and free runs at the goal through the early going of this second half. Both sides have come out looking much less tentative compared with the first 45 minutes.

A rogue ball in the box was deflected by a Bosnia-Herzegovina defender and hit the crossbar.

Moments later, Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Ermedin Demirović was on a run in the box, but Canada’s goalkeeper prevented him from getting a shot on goal.

Bosnia-Herzegovina goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj and Canada’s Tani Oluwaseyi were both on the ground for quite a while after a collision in the top of the box. Vasilj appeared to take the brunt of the collision, but he recovered well enough to take the ensuing goal kick.

El jugador apareció en el área para enviar el balón al fondo de la red durante un córner. Gran gol del conjunto europeo.

Can Canada find an equalizer on its home turf?

The Canadian American actor is, of course, a co-owner of Wrexham, the Welsh soccer club. He knows his soccer, and he might not be happy after watching Canada in that first half.

Coincidentally, Alanis Morissette, the Canadian singer and Reynolds' former partner, sang the Canadian national anthem before the match.

Bosnia-Herzegovina enters halftime with a 1-0 lead thanks to Jovo Lukić’s goal in the 21st minute.

Canada has dominated possession, controlling the ball for 66% of the action.

Bosnia-Herzegovina has an advantage in quality of chances, though, leading in expected goals 0.77 to 0.66.

An overeager tackle by Demirović leads to Bosnia-Herzegovina’s first card of the tourney.

Jonathan David tried to hit a bicycle kick off a corner, but it bounced out of bounds off a Bosnia-Herzegovina defender with no harm.

Canada had another corner right after, but couldn’t capitalize on that either.

A third one also failed to lead to a shot on goal.

Oluwaseyi had space on the right side of the box, but his shot sailed over the left side of the goal on what was Canada’s best chance of the match so far.

Now trailing by a goal, Canada has ticked up its aggression as the team looks for an equalizer in the first half.

Bosnia-Herzegovina is in the lead after an incredible set piece. A corner kick led to two headers, the second of which bounced off Jovo Lukić into the back of the net. It was his first goal in international competition.

It’s 1-0.

A cross into the box bounced its way to Canada’s Jonathan David, but his shot on goal was stonewalled by Vasilj.

Canada has the edge in possession, but Bosnia-Herzegovina leads in expected goals. Neither side is dominating.

His sliding tackle was deemed too rough, and now we have our first card of the day.

A free kick lobbed into the box led to a scoring chance for Bosnia-Herzegovina, but the shot from the top of the box sailed over the net.

Canada had a corner kick in the second minute, but the team failed to get a shot on goal before the ball was cleared to the other side of the field.

Canada kicked off and we are underway.

Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina is about to start. Turn on Peacock and Telemundo!

For the hosts, Canada:

For Bosnia-Herzegovina:

Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will not take part in their World Cup game against Panama on Wednesday after his visa application to enter Canada was refused, FIFA said on Friday.

“FIFA can confirm that player Thomas Partey will be unable to travel from Ghana’s Team Base Camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government,” FIFA said in a statement to Reuters.

“FIFA is not involved in the immigration processes of host countries, including the adjudication of visas.”

The Canadian government did not immediately respond to an email query from Reuters.

Partey is with the rest of the Ghana squad in Boston and will be eligible to play in their subsequent Group L matches against England in the city and against Croatia in Philadelphia.

The 32-year-old Partey, a former Arsenal midfielder who now plays for Villarreal, faces allegations of rape and sexual assault in the United Kingdom. He has denied the charges.

Nora Fatehi performs during the opening ceremony.  Ezra Shaw / FIFA via Getty Images

Canada will face Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto's opening match today.

Ezra Shaw / FIFA via Getty Images

Michael Steele / Getty Images

Long before Dayne St. Clair was stopping goals, he was setting them.

St. Clair helped Canada enter the conversation, making his second consecutive World Cup appearance with the team. Getting there might not have been possible had it not been for a conversation he had years prior, when Jerry Pennant suggested he become a goalkeeper.

St. Clair, a defender on his club team at the time, began training with Pennant to play keeper and soon made it his primary position. Pennant said he had to compete against six other goalkeepers in his age group.

“At one point in time, he was ranked as sixth and seventh,” Pennant said. “And over the years, he had to put in the work to propel above the rest.”

Read the full story here.

Luke Reece never played hockey growing up in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga. Instead, he played soccer, like many Canadians who are now adults.

The sport is so popular it has surpassed hockey and all other sports in youth participation, according to a recent report by Jumpstart, a Canadian charity that helps low-income youth play organized sports. It said half the nation’s youth participate in organized soccer.

Reece was one of many locals sporting Canada soccer gear yesterday ahead of their nation’s World Cup opener today against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

“Wish I had tickets to the game tomorrow, but I don’t,” Reece said. “I’m going to a game in Vancouver. It was cheaper to get a ticket out there.”

Is Canada about to have a soccer moment?

“It already has a good hold in this country in terms of participation. I think we all expect that to grow. These tournaments inspire so many next-generation people to find their heroes, play the game,” said Christina Linz, president of the women’s Northern Super League. “I think (it) will really draw those emotional connections.”

Joe Prince-Wright, Nick Mendola and Andy Edwards make their World Cup predictions ahead of the first day of group stage games.

One-hundred and four matches. 48 nations. One champion. Map out the road to the final and pick your favorite team to take home the world’s biggest prize.

President Donald Trump will not be in attendance when the United States opens its World Cup competition against Paraguay tonight.

That was confirmed by Andrew Giuliani, the CEO of the World Cup task force, in an interview with a radio station in the United Kingdom.

“He’s not going to end up attending the opening game,” Giuliani told TalkSport yesterday. “As we’ve said, his scheduling is tight. But I know he’s going to be engaged throughout this World Cup.”

He needs to be in Washington, D.C., later this weekend. He is hosting the UFC Freedom 250 at the White House on Sunday, his 80th birthday.

Men in Blazers' Roger Bennett joins the "Dan Patrick Show" to discuss how the World Cup shows a new side of the U.S. to visiting fans, soccer's massive increase in popularity stateside, what the U.S. men's national team's ceiling is and more.

Canada is more known for hockey than soccer, but don’t get it twisted — this is a legitimate World Cup squad that could surprise this summer. Alphonso Davies, one of the best defensive players in the world, is a major reason why. The 25-year-old began his career with the MLS’ Vancouver Whitecaps, where he was the first player born in the 2000s to play in a game. 

In 2019, he made the move to the Bundesliga’s Bayern Munich for a then-record MLS transfer fee and helped deliver a Champions League title just one year later. He’s been a star for the perennial European powers ever since. 

Davies will be integral at left back for Canada … if he can get on the field. A hamstring injury suffered against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semifinal on May 6 will keep him out “several weeks,” according to the team. The setback is on top of an ACL tear he sustained in 2025 that forced him to miss most of this past season. Will that lack of recent game experience plague him in the World Cup? 

Alphonso Davies of Canada controls the ball during a match against Mexico in 2025. Michael Owens / Getty Images file

One of the best young American talents will take the field at the World Cup — for Bosnia-Herzegovina. Meet Esmir Bajraktarević, the 21-year-old nicknamed the “Milwaukee Messi.” 

Born in Appleton, Wisconsin, to parents born in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bajraktarević was quickly spotted by talent evaluators for his goal-scoring wizardry and drive to improve. Both qualities helped him rise through the U.S. system while playing for development teams of MLS side New England and the U.S. national team. 

With his pathway to playing for the U.S. senior national team this summer unclear, however, Bajraktarević elected to represent his parents’ home country during this World Cup cycle, and he has since become a national hero back in Bosnia.

Esmir Bajraktarević scores a winning penalty kick during a World Cup qualifying match against Italy on March 31.  Getty Images

Kang-In Lee conectó un pase magistral para que In-Beom Hwang rematara picado sobre Kovár y pusiera el empate para el conjunto asiático ante los europeos en su presentación en la Copa del Mundo desde el Estadio Guadalajara.

Drew Dinsick and Jay Croucher discuss the field for Group D at the World Cup, where the U.S. remains a slight favorite in a group with Turkey, Paraguay and Australia.

In Toronto, Canada will play Bosnia-Herzegovina at 3 p.m. ET in the first of two games today, followed by the U.S. and Paraguay at 9 p.m.

This is the first meeting ever between Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina, as Canada is only making its third World Cup. These teams play in Group B, along with Qatar and Switzerland.

Canada is trying to become the first team from CONCACAF — the confederation that covers nations from North and Central America and the Caribbean — to beat a European team at the World Cup in 13 games. The last win was Mexico's 1-0 defeat of Germany in 2018.

Canada's Tani Oluwaseyi works out with teammates yesterday in Toronto. Stephanie Scarbrough / AP

On the opening day of the World Cup, Mexico beat South Africa in a game with three red cards, and later South Korea came from behind to beat Czechia, 2-1.

Julián Quiñones scored quickly to put Mexico ahead.

Mexico added to its cushion in the 66th minute.

On Thursday night in Guadalajara, South Korea's tying goal was scored on a spectacular assist that set up an even better move by Hwang In-beom.

Both Mexico and South Korea now sit atop Group A with 3 points apiece. They will play each other on June 18.