USMNT sends a pre-World Cup message as Gio Reyna scores during friendly win over Paraguay

CHESTER, PA — For Gio Reyna, Saturday was the hard launch of his campaign to make the U.S. Squad for the 2026 World Cup.

For Folarin Balogun, it was a chance to continue the hot streak he had been on with his club team. 

And for the United States men’s national team, it was a chance to show that the program was headed in the right direction, less than eight months out from the World Cup.

A 2-1 win over Paraguay helped show all of that just south of the City of Brotherly Love. 

Reyna did something that was 600 days in the making — score with the American crest on his chest — heading the game’s opening goal in the fourth minute of Saturday’s friendly at Subaru Park.

Balogun fired a loose ball in the box past Paraguay keeper Orlando Gill to break a 1-1 tie in the 71st minute. 

Saturday’s friendly was a big test for the Americans as they faced a Paraguay team that already qualified for the World Cup and would give them a taste of how tough things will be when things kick off next summer. 

The USMNT hung in with Paraguay, controlling possession 54 percent of the time in the first half, while getting two of its four shots on target through the first 45 minutes. 

Reyna, along with Sergino Dest, proved to be a nuisance for the Paraguayan defense for the better part of the night.