News Focus
- Folarin Balogun scores twice as USA hammer Paraguay 4-1 in World Cup clash
- Americans hit four goals in a World Cup finals match for the first time ever
- Striker jumps from unranked to joint-fifth favourite in Golden Boot betting
- Bookmakers report heavy losses after public bettors back the USA in large numbers
- Victory takes place at SoFi Stadium during the 2026 tournament group stage
The United States Men’s National Team made history on Friday night with a stunning 4-1 victory over Paraguay at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The result proved disastrous for bookmakers but brought huge profits for supporters who placed wagers on the American side.
Folarin Balogun led the attack with two goals in the first half. The striker opened his account in the 31st minute to give the USA a 2-0 lead. He struck again during first-half injury time to make it 3-0. This performance marked a remarkable turnaround for a player who did not even appear on the Golden Boot odds list before the tournament began.
By full time, Balogun had climbed to joint-fifth favourite at +1600 odds to win the Golden Boot award. He now shares this position with Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo. Only four players sit above him in the betting: France’s Kylian Mbappé (+600), England’s Harry Kane (+650), Spain’s Mikel Oyarzabal (+1000) and Norway’s Erling Haaland (+1400).
The four-goal tally set a new record for the USA at a World Cup finals. During the 2022 tournament in Qatar, the Americans managed just two goals across three group matches. Balogun matched that total in a single evening. Previously, the USA had never scored more than three goals in any World Cup fixture.
Betting firms across the United States reported significant losses following the match. John Murray, vice president at The SuperBook, admitted the result hurt his company’s finances. He revealed that betting slips favoured the USA by nine to one, while the money wagered sat at ten to one in America’s favour.
Seamus Magee, a trading manager at BetMGM, described the day as “fruitful” for customers. Popular winning bets included the USA moneyline, USA -1.5 goals, Balogun to score multiple times, and both teams to find the net. The heavy support for the USMNT left bookmakers hoping for a draw that never materialised.
The match took place at SoFi Stadium and showcased an attacking display that surprised many football experts. Paraguay had shown strong defensive organisation during their CONMEBOL qualifying campaign, but they could not contain the American forwards.
This victory gives the United States momentum in their group stage campaign. It also establishes Balogun as a serious threat for the tournament’s top scorer award.