Key facts
- Chris Richards completed 83 of 83 passes in the US vs. Paraguay World Cup match.
- This marks the highest number of passes completed with 100% accuracy in a World Cup game since 1966.
- The United States won the match 4-1.
- Folarin Balogun scored two goals for the US.
- Christian Pulisic was substituted at halftime due to a calf issue.
United States defender Chris Richards achieved a historic milestone in the FIFA World Cup 2026 opener against Paraguay, completing all 83 of his passes. This flawless performance marks the highest number of passes completed with 100% accuracy by any player in a World Cup match since 1966, according to ESPN Insights.
The United States secured a dominant 4-1 victory in the match, which was hosted at SoFi Stadium. Folarin Balogun was instrumental, scoring two goals, while Christian Pulisic also delivered a strong performance, contributing an assist before being substituted at halftime as a precautionary measure due to a calf issue.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino confirmed that Pulisic was withdrawn to avoid any risks, with Sebastian Berhalter coming on as his replacement. The US team took an early lead through an own goal by Paraguay's Damian Bobadilla in the 7th minute, followed by Balogun's first goal in the 31st minute. Paraguay briefly pulled one back in the 73rd minute via Mauricio Magalhaes, but Gio Reyna sealed the emphatic win with a late strike.
In another Group A fixture, Canada began their World Cup campaign with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina.