The US Men’s National Team launched their home World Cup campaign with a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. While the scoreline reflected total dominance, Gio Reyna’s stoppage-time goal defined the match and silenced lingering doubts about his place on the roster.
Reyna capped a 26-pass sequence with a precise trivela finish, striking the ball with the outside of his foot under immense pressure. The technical execution in front of a home crowd instantly became a defining image of the tournament and validated Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s decision to include him despite past injury concerns.
Skepticism surrounded Reyna following a difficult period at Borussia Dortmund where injuries limited his impact. However, this performance shifts the narrative from reliability questions to tournament acclaim. Pochettino’s mandate to build a competitive squad for 2026 appears to be succeeding, with Reyna now central to the team's offensive identity rather than a roster bubble case.