The biggest World Cup ever kicks into high gear on Friday with co-hosts United States and Canada both opening their tournaments at home.

Folarin Balgoun scored a pair of first-half goals to lead the U.S. Men’s National Team to open the 2026 World Cup with an impressive 4-1 victory over Paraguay in Inglewood, California.

Balogun has earned his distinction as the USMNT's starter at center forward but hot on his heels is Ricardo Pepi, who used his World Cup exclusion in 2022 as fuel in the years since.