USMNT player ratings: Balogun, Pulisic, Tillman shine as USA routs Paraguay

The USMNT is off to a flying start at the 2026 World Cup after beating Paraguay 4-1 on Friday, as Folarin Balogun scored twice in the first half and Gio Reyna put the exclamation point on a perfect night in Los Angeles. RECAP, HIGHLIGHTS — USA 4-1 Paraguay Mauricio Pochettino seems to have found his winning formula, with the starting XI practically picking itself at this point. The only real question was in midfield — which way would he lean, attacking or defensive? — and he said attack, attack, attack. MORE USMNT — What we learned from USA vs Paraguay For 45 minutes, the USMNT was an unstoppable force and made longtime fans say to themselves and others, “This is finally it,” and for that they should all get 10 out of 10 marks.

USMNT player ratings versus Paraguay in World Cup opener Matt Freese: 6 - Only faced one shot on target (the goal) and didn’t have much luck on long balls. Freese will have to have (at least) one spectacular performance at this World Cup — is he up to it? Alex Freeman: 7 - Perhaps Pochettino’s most impressive trick: making Freeman, the youngest and least experienced starter, the tactical key to keeping perfect balance between attack and defense. Chris Richards: 7 - So, the ankle looks totally fine.

That’s the headline here. Thanks to the USMNT’s cushy draw, Richards won’t face a striker ranked among the world’s very best until the round of 32 at the earliest — more than enough time to ease himself back in. Tim Ream: 7 - At some point in this tournament, the will of Tim Ream shall be broken by Father Time, but what a run he’s on and what an important leader, example, captain for a talented team sorely short on those qualities. Sergiño Dest: 7 - USMNT attackers running at defenders with glee is going to be a recurring theme here, but Dest ran the right side the same way that Christian Pulisic ran the left in the first half.

If we’re being picky and greedy, I would humbly ask that a cross does find its intended target from time to time. Tyler Adams: 7 - Adams didn’t have to be heroic and put out countless fires in midfield like he usually does — mostly because the five in front of him did most of the work themselves — and that’s a credit to Pochettino’s game plan. There will be a game in this World Cup that Pochettino looks at Adams and says, “Save us,” but it wasn’t this one. Weston McKennie: 7 - Wasn’t credited with many defensive contributions (one recovery, nothing more), but McKennie was right on time for every rotation and played the team game brilliantly.

Antonee Robinson: 7.5 - Both Dest and Robinson are perfectly suited by the USMNT’s new tactical setup — a 3-4-2-1 that seamlessly shifts to a back-four and -five without the ball — because they stretch the field the full width and open those pockets of space for the front-five to flow into. That’s what it looked like in the first half: free-flowing, liquid football. Malik Tillman: 8 - It felt like a World Cup miracle when Pochettino picked an attacker like Tillman to join Adams and McKennie in midfield, and the 24-year-old Bayern Leverkusen star did not disappoint with his opportunity. He was one of them running at defenders every time he touched the ball, and played a perfect ball to Folarin Balogun for the third goal.

Christian Pulisic: 8 - He did whatever he wanted down the left flank before coming off at halftime, beating one and two defenders time after time in the first half. When he’s that direct and desperate to run at his man, he’s at his best. One assist, one hockey assist on the own goal — a decent day’s work for 45 minutes, now let’s hope he’s not carrying an injury. Folarin Balogun: 9 - Ladies and gentlemen, we got one.

We’ve never had a striker like him, someone who can run center backs ragged off the ball and can find crafty scoring chances for himself with it. He’s the best striker the USMNT has ever had, and he’s playing with the best supporting cast in program history. Flo might get paid this summer. Sebastian Berhalter (sub): 6.5 - Wasn’t asked to do a pretty job — don’t get caught out defensively and don’t give the ball away — but it was an important one with a three-goal lead coming out of halftime, and he did it well.

Timothy Weah (sub): 6 - This wasn’t the game, but Weah will undoubtedly swing a game in the USMNT’s favor with an injection of pace on the right wing. Opposing full backs chase Dest all over for 70 minutes, congratulations, here’s someone much faster than him. Ricardo Pepi (sub): 6 - Only had seven touches, but looked lively during his one key involvement on the counter. Gio Reyna (sub): 7.5 - And that, folks, is why he’s on the roster.