News Focus
- Gio Reyna scores his first-ever World Cup goal using a spectacular trivela technique in stoppage time
- The goal finishes a remarkable 26-pass team sequence during the USA’s 4-1 win against Paraguay
- The celebration honours his pregnant wife Chloe, tucking the ball under his shirt
- The moment represents redemption after the midfielder’s difficult 2022 Qatar tournament
- Manager Mauricio Pochettino sprinted down the touchline to embrace the player after the goal
The United States Men’s National Team began their 2026 World Cup campaign with a dominant display at Los Angeles Stadium. They defeated Paraguay 4-1 in a match that ended with a moment of individual brilliance from Gio Reyna.
Deep into added time, with victory already certain, the American players chose attack over defence. They kept possession for 70 seconds, completing 26 passes across the pitch. The move finished when Reyna received the ball just outside the penalty area from teammate Alex Freeman. The 23-year-old took one touch forward into space. He then struck the ball with the outside of his right foot, producing a perfect trivela that curled beyond goalkeeper Orlando Gil.
After scoring, Reyna lifted his shirt and placed the ball underneath, pretending to suck his thumb. This was a tribute to his wife, Chloe, who is expecting their first child. Speaking after the match, Reyna admitted his family had been asking him to shoot more often. “My parents and my wife have been telling me to shoot more,” he said with a modest smile. “I know I have a good shot, but I’m conditioned to pass first. They want me to be a little bit more selfish at times.”
This goal carried extra significance because of Reyna’s history with the national team. During the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he was involved in a major controversy. His limited playing time created a public fallout between former coach Gregg Berhalter and Reyna’s parents, Claudio and Danielle Reyna. The player’s attitude was questioned, and the drama overshadowed the team’s performance.
Four years later, the situation has changed completely. Current manager Mauricio Pochettino showed great faith by selecting Reyna for the squad, even though he has not played regularly for Borussia Mönchengladbach. When the trivela goal went in, the Argentine coach ran along the sideline to hug his midfielder in an emotional celebration.
Team captain Christian Pulisic, who scored twice in the first half, praised his teammate. “We see stuff from him like that every day,” Pulisic explained. “So it’s not like a crazy surprise. And he deserves it. It’s great to see him pull it off in a moment like this.”
Sebastian Berhalter, son of the former manager, also appeared as a substitute. He refused to discuss the old family tensions when reporters asked. “It’s not a story between me and him,” he stated clearly. “We’re on the same team. For us, it’s just about winning games for the national team.”
Reyna has repeatedly told journalists that he has grown from his experiences in Qatar. He insists he is focused only on the present tournament. With this unforgettable goal, he has perhaps finally replaced those difficult memories with a new, positive chapter for both himself and American football.