World Cup: Balogun double powers USMNT
The second day of the World Cup saw the United States cruise past Paraguay, while Canada and Bosnia battled to a draw, leaving Group B wide open.
Canada 1-1 Bosnia
In Toronto, three players with Ligue 1 McDonald's experience -- Jonathan David, Ismaël Koné, and Derek Cornelius -- lined up for the hosts, while for Bosnia, former Marseille players Amar Dedic and Sead Kolasinac were in the eleven, with Lens defender Nidal Čelik having recently been forced out of the tournament due to injury. Bosnia would start the brighter, winning a succession of free kicks, but failed to make their dominance pay. Or failed, at least, until the 21st minute, as Jovo Lukic opened the scoring with a fine glancing header, with Kolasinac providing the assist.
Canada would grow into the game before the half, but the Bosnians would cling on to their lead. Just after the break, there were strong shouts for a penalty for Canada for a foul by the Bosnian goalkeeper, just moments before Kolasinac again was at the center of the action, this time deflecting a goal-bound shot onto the bar. Canada's pressure would finally tell twelve minutes from time, though, as substitute Cyle Larin lashed home an equalizer, leaving Switzerland with a fine chance of moving ahead of the two sides when they face Qatar.
World Cup 2026 top scorer. Stop the count. 😏🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/FoGcoXGVUR
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) June 13, 2026
United States 4-1 Paraguay
With AS Monaco's Folarin Balogun leading the way, the United States turned in the most dominant display of the tournament to date. Julio Enciso (RC Strasbourg) passed a late fitness to test to make the eleven for Paraguay, but it mattered little as the hosts turned in a complete performance in Los Angeles. Playing with plenty of intensity, the US' pressure told on just seven minutes, as they forced Paraguay into an own goal. Balogun would make his first contribution on the half hour, getting on the end of a Christian Pulisic cutback to double the lead.
His second, in first-half stoppage time, was all of his own making, though. Holding off two defenders, he laced a unstoppable shot into the top corner to all but seal the result before the break. While Paraguay would pull a goal back in the second half, a sumptuous Gio Reyna strike just before the final whistle would preserve the final margin.
