Top News

DON’T MISS A MOMENT OF THE WORLD CUP

Kasey Keller has highlighted three unheralded contributors for the USMNT, even as Folarin Balogun and Christian Pulisic captured most of the attention following the team’s dream opening to the 2026 World Cup campaign.

While Balogun and Pulisic dominated headlines after a commanding performance, former United States goalkeeper Keller, speaking with GOAL, singled out three midfielders he believes have been vital to Mauricio Pochettino’s side as they co-host FIFA’s premier tournament.

Golden Generation aiming to fulfil its promise

With what many have dubbed a ‘Golden Generation’ of players, expectations surrounding the USMNT were sky-high heading into a major tournament on home soil. Yet, there was still uncertainty about how a talented but relatively young squad would perform under such pressure.

Their opening match against Paraguay was expected to test that potential, and the Americans responded emphatically, producing a record-breaking start to their World Cup campaign at SoFi Stadium in California.

Dream start to 2026 World Cup versus Paraguay

It took less than seven minutes for the United States to take the lead when Damian Bobadilla accidentally turned the ball into his own net. AC Milan’s Christian Pulisic, affectionately known as ‘Captain America’, proved relentless on the left flank, setting the tone for the night.

Pulisic then set up Folarin Balogun for the second goal just beyond the half-hour mark, before the Monaco striker smashed home a stunning third into the top corner before half-time. Later, creative midfielder Gio Reyna came off the bench and capped the performance with a delightful outside-of-the-boot finish for the fourth goal. Paraguay managed only a single response in a one-sided affair.

The unsung heroes behind the USMNT’s early success

For the United States to truly excel on home soil, stars like Pulisic and Balogun must continue leading from the front. But Keller was quick to point out that their success has been built on the efforts of others performing key support roles.

When asked about those lesser-praised contributors, Keller, speaking in association with William Hill’s ‘Final One Standing’, told GOAL: “I think the trio in midfield did an unbelievable job.”

He elaborated: “It’s not as though these are unknown players — Weston McKennie is at Juventus, Tyler Adams plays for Bournemouth, and Malik Tillman is with Leverkusen — but they haven’t often played together as a unit.”

“That was one of the unusual aspects under Pochettino. He rarely fielded the same starting eleven twice, so there was uncertainty about how the team would settle and how quickly they would build chemistry. But I think that midfield trio struck a superb balance between providing cover and driving the attack. They pinned Paraguay back with their pressing, regained possession quickly after turnovers, and won nearly every second ball. Their energy and cohesion simply overwhelmed Paraguay.”

Next up: Australia in Seattle

The 4-1 scoreline marked the first time the USMNT had netted four goals in a single World Cup match. With that milestone achieved, attention now shifts to their next Group D clash against Australia at Lumen Field in Seattle on Friday.

A win in that encounter would confirm their place in the round of 32, leaving a game against Turkiye to spare. Beyond qualification, another victory would further lift the team’s confidence and fuel growing belief among fans that this squad can continue rewriting history as they pursue football’s most coveted prize.