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Barack Obama’s message to USMNT as World Cup campaign gets off to dream start
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- Barack Obama’s message to USMNT as World Cup campaign gets off to dream start
Photo by JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images
Barack Obama sent the USMNT a simple message before the United States turned its World Cup opener into a dream start against Paraguay .
The former president posted his support as Mauricio Pochettino's side began its home tournament at SoFi Stadium.
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By the end of the night, the message looked well timed. USA did not just win its Group D opener, it produced one of the strongest World Cup performances in the team's history.
Photo by John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images
Barack Obama sends USMNT message before Paraguay win
As Barack Obama wrote, the message to the United States was direct: "Let's go Team USA! Good luck at the World Cup"
The team responded with the kind of display that makes those national moments feel real.
USA beat Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles, taking three points and moving straight to the top of the early Group D conversation.
The start was ideal. Damián Bobadilla's own goal gave the Americans an early lead, and Folarin Balogun then took control of the match with two first-half goals.
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That gave the USMNT a 3-0 lead at halftime, removing nerves from the night and giving the SoFi crowd a performance to believe in.
USA rout Paraguay as Group D picture changes fast
Paraguay did pull one back through Maurício in the second half, but the comeback never truly looked likely.
Gio Reyna made sure of that in stoppage time, scoring the fourth goal and sealing a record-breaking night for the United States.
The 4-1 scoreline mattered historically because it was the first time the USMNT had scored four goals in a men's World Cup match.
There was one concern after the win. Christian Pulisic came off after taking a kick to the calf, with the early message from Pochettino suggesting it was precautionary rather than serious.
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USA now face Australia on June 19 at Lumen Field in Seattle, where another win would put them close to the knockout rounds.
Paraguay face Türkiye on June 20 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, needing a response after opening with no points and a minus-three goal difference.
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