Christian Pulisic has faced a lot of ups and downs in his international career, but what unfolded in the first half against Paraguay was breathtaking, even by his standards.

The first 45 minutes of Team USA’s FIFA World Cup opener had a bit of everything. Sergino Dest was attempting tricks, Malik Tillman was pulling off backheel flicks, and players across the pitch were taking on Paraguayan defenders and trying things few expected from this USMNT side. Most importantly, they looked confident in themselves and their abilities. It was the kind of collective freedom that doesn’t happen by accident.

“It’s pretty special to watch,” Pulisic said in an interview postgame. “It’s fun to look around and know that there are different guys that can pull off these different skills and moves and things going on.”

The reporter who asked him the question had noticed something significant. The USA’s first-half performance seemed to have a snowball effect, with one player’s confidence feeding into the next. Pulisic, who plays for Milan in Serie A, was quick to look beyond the surface-level highlights. The flicks and tricks were easy to appreciate, but what he wanted to discuss was something less visible.

“More, you know, than just that, I feel like there’s such a good connection between us right now,” he said. “I really like the way even [Floarin] Balogun, I mean, the way you’ll, you know, everyone will look at the goals, but the way he’s fighting against these center backs, holding up the ball, and getting fouls.”

It was a telling observation from a player who knows the game well enough to recognize that the scoreboard only tells part of the story. Folarin Balogun scored twice, which will dominate the headlines. However, the work he did before either of them arrived, the physical battles won, the fouls drawn, and the space created for teammates, provided the foundation for the USA’s attack.

Pulisic described a connection that did not happen overnight. It is the result of time spent together, of a group of players who have adopted a style of play and expression. On the opening day fixture against Paraguay, it was reflected on the field.

Pulisic himself recorded an assist before being substituted at halftime by Mauricio Pochettino as a precaution after suffering a calf injury in training. Even so, his fingerprints were all over the first half.

USA Make Their Mark on the World Cup

It’s still early days, but Team USA will be extremely bullish about its chances of making a deep run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup following its emphatic win over Paraguay.

It all began with an own goal by Damian Bobadilla in the seventh minute before Balogun scored twice before halftime. The SoFi Stadium crowd in Inglewood was euphoric, while Paraguay looked rattled. Gio Reyna added a fourth goal in the 98th minute after Paraguay pulled one back through Mauricio in the 73rd.

“On behalf of the whole team, a massive thank you to the fans because the energy that they translated to the team was amazing. We can do amazing things if the fans are in this as well,” coach Pochettino said in the post-match press conference.

The USMNT plays its next game on Friday, 19th June, against Australia in Seattle before heading back to California to play Turkey.

The first half against Paraguay demonstrated what this team is capable of when everything works together.

The connection exists, as Pulisic stated, and the talent is there. If the first 45 minutes against Paraguay is to be believed as the reality, the United States of America may not just be a placeholder host nation but a legitimate contender and cause some pretty big upsets.