CHESTER, Pa. (Nov. 15, 2025) – On the banks of the Delaware River, the U.S. Men’s National Team opened a two-match set against World Cup-bound, South American opponents in the November international window with a confident performance and a 2-1 win against a physical, dynamic Paraguay side at Subaru Park behind a fourth-minute goal from midfielder Gio Reyna and the second-half game-winner from striker Folarin Balogun.
The victory extends the USMNT’s current unbeaten run against World Cup-qualified opponents to four straight matches. In September, Paraguay secured qualification to the FIFA 2026 World Cup, marking the country’s return to the tournament for the first time in 16 years.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s starting XI averaged 32 caps and featured two of the four Philadelphia Union products on this camp roster. Midfielder Brenden Aaronson, earning his 55th cap tonight, and goalkeeper Matt Freese, making his 11th straight start, both progressed through the pathway at Philadelphia Union, starting at the Academy and eventually making appearances with the first team.
Also in Pochettino’s starting XI were Borussia Mönchengladbach teammates Reyna and defender Joe Scally. Saturday marked the first appearance for both players since the Concacaf Nations League in March.
Overall, Pochettino made eight changes from the 2-1 win over Australia during the October window with Freese, center back Miles Robinson and midfielder Cristian Roldan, who had two assists in that October win, as the three holdovers.
The USMNT started the match aggressively and were rewarded with the opening goal off a recycled corner kick. After two blocked shots kept the ball in a dangerous area for the U.S., fullback Max Arfsten, who initially took the corner kick, received the ball back on the right side of the pitch and made a move to create space for a cross. Reyna rose to flick Arfsten’s cross into the box. The midfielder’s header ricocheted off the bottom of the crossbar and over the goal line for Reyna’s ninth international goal - and the first header of his professional career - to get the U.S. off to a strong start.
The match’s opening moments proved to be exciting, and the fans at Subaru Park witnessed two goals in the first 10 minutes of action. For the second, Paraguayan forward Alex Arce finished a superb first-time cross from Atlanta United standout Miguel Almirón to level the match 1-1.
The U.S. created a nice chance to pull ahead in the 19th minute. Fullback Sergiño Dest, making his second start under Pochettino, took his defender 1v1 on the right side in the United States’ attacking third and charged toward goal. Dest’s excellent cutback set up a precise, low pass to Roldan who was open inside the 18-yard box. Roldan delivered a firm, first-time shot on frame, but Paraguay goalkeeper Orlando Gill made the save.
The two World Cup-bound sides entered the halftime break in a 1-1 deadlock, though the U.S. established a slight edge in first-half possession at 55 percent.
Around the 64th minute, the U.S. increased its intensity in and around goal, including a tantalizing chip across the six-yard box from midfielder Tanner Tessmann. Moments later, Balogun made a wicked backheeled pass to Dest running on, but Paraguay was able to recover and clear the ball out of danger on both attacks. Dest followed it up on the next U.S. possession with a laser shot off his left foot. Gill’s reach knocked the firm shot over the crossbar for a U.S. corner kick.
Finally, the relentless pursuit from the Americans to find the winner paid off, and in the 71st minute the U.S. went back in front. The play started with vigorous pressure from Roldan and midfielder Diego Luna, who entered the match as a substitute four minutes earlier. With the takeaway, the U.S. was off to the races, and Balogun worked with Reyna on the left side of the pitch. The deflection off Reyna’s low cross went right into the path of Balogun, and the striker finished for his third goal in as many consecutive starts.
In the proceeding possessions, both sides missed near chances. Almirón ripped a shot on frame from about 25 yards out, and Freese came up with a huge stop to tip it over the crossbar, leading to a Paraguay corner kick. On the other end, a deflected cross from Luna rolled into the path of striker Ricardo Pepi, who subbed on in the 75th minute. Pepi took a couple of dribbles to collect the ball in front of goal, but Paraguay recovered to block his close-range shot.
In three days, USA faces 16th-ranked Uruguay, presented by New York Life, in Tampa at Raymond James Stadium. The match on Tuesday, Nov. 18 kicks off at 7 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on TNT, truTV, HBO Max, Universo, and Peacock.
GOAL SCORING RUNDOWN
USA – Gio Reyna (Max Arfsten), 4th minute: After Roldan’s initial shot on goal was blocked, the midfielder swung the ball out wide. Arfsten made a stepover move on the right side of the pitch to push the ball toward the endline. The fullback ripped a cross with his right foot into the box. Reyna flicked a header toward goal that bounced downward off the bottom of the crossbar and over the goal line to open the scoring. USA 1, PAR 0
PAR – Alex Arce (Miguel Almirón), 10th minute: Defender Junior Alonso’s long ball out of Paraguay’s defensive half found Almíron in a wide position in the attacking third. Almirón played a cross first-time with his left foot from the left flank. Arce flew in and dove to direct a firm header into the back of the net from close range. USA 1, PAR 1
USA – Folarin Balogun, 71st minute: Following a takeaway in the middle third of the pitch, Balogun played the ball to Reyna on the left flank, then the striker sprinted into the box. Reyna’s cross back to Balogun deflected off a Paraguayan defender, and the bounce came Balogun’s way. Balogun’s firm strike with his left foot traveled into the far side netting for his eighth international goal. USA 2, PAR 1 FINAL
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Match: United States Men’s National Team vs. Paraguay
Date: Nov. 15, 2025
Competition: International Friendly
Venue: Subaru Park; Chester, Pa.
Attendance: 17,224
Kickoff: 5 p.m. ET
Weather: 51 degrees, cloudy
| Scoring Summary | 1 | 2 | F |
| USA | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| PAR | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| USA – Gio Reyna (Max Arfsten) | 4th minute |
| PAR – Alex Arce (Miguel Almirón) | 10 |
| USA – Folarin Balogun | 71 |
Lineups:
USA: 1-Matt Freese; 5-Joe Scally (10-Diego Luna, 67), 2-Miles Robinson, 13-Tim Ream (Capt.), 18-Max Arfsten; 8-Tanner Tessmann, 6-Cristian Roldan (23-Aidan Morris, 75); 2-Sergiño Dest (16-Alex Freeman, 67), 7-Gio Reyna (14-Timmy Tillman, 75), 11-Brenden Aaronson (17-Sebastian Berhalter, 80); 20-Folarin Balogun (9-Ricardo Pepi, 75)
Substitutes not used: 21-Jonathan Klinsmann, 24-Roman Celentano, 25-Patrick Schulte, 3-John Tolkin, 15-Auston Trusty, 19-Haji Wright, 22-Mark McKenzie
Head coach: Mauricio Pochettino
PAR: 12-Orlando Gill; 14-Blas Riveros, 6-Júnior Alonso, 15-Gustavo Gómez (Capt.), 4-Juan José Cáceres; 10-Miguel Almirón, 8-Diego Gómez (26- Lucas Romero, 80), 16-Damián Bobadilla, 11-Diego González (7-Ramón Sosa, 61); 19-Julio Enciso (20-Braian Ojeda, 75), 18-Alex Arce
Substitutes not used: 1-Roberto Fernández, 22-Aldo Pérez, 2-Gustavo Velázquez, 3-Omar Alderete, 5-Alexis Duarte, 9-Antonio Sanabria, 13-Alan Benítez, 17-Alejandro Romero, 21-Ronaldo Martínez, 23-Matías Galarza, 24-Agustín Sández, 25-Diego León
Head coach: Gustavo Alfaro
Stats Summary: USA / PAR
Shots: 8 / 8
Shots on Goal: 3 / 3
Saves: 2 / 1
Corner Kicks: 5 / 8
Fouls: 13 / 12
Offsides: 1 / 2
| Misconduct Summary |
| USA – Miles Robinson (Caution) | 26th minute |
| USA – Gio Reyna (Caution) | 36 |
| PAR – Diego González (Caution) | 40 |
| PAR – Damián Bobadilla (Caution) | 82 |
| PAR – Júnior Alonso (Caution) | 90+4 |
| PAR – Omar Alderete (Ejection) | 90+4 |
Officials:
Referee: Cristian Corado (GUA)
Assistant 1: Cristian Alvarado (GUA)
Assistant 2: Carlos Fernandez (CRC)
Fourth Official: Pablo Camacho (CRC)
Michelob Ultra Man of the Match: Folarin Balogun