Things couldn’t have started much better for the United States in its World Cup opener.
In the seventh minute of the United States’ Group A match against Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium, the Americans were gifted an own goal that gave them an early lead — so early that it’s actually the third-fastest goal for the U.S. in World Cup history. Paraguay midfielder Damián Bobadilla was credited with the own goal. Weston McKennie was the last U.S. player to touch the ball in the run of play.
The U.S. has scored a goal in the first 15 minutes of a World Cup match six times in history, with three coming against Paraguay (two in 1930 and one tonight). The two earliest goals for the U.S. in a home World Cup match have both been own goal: on Friday against Paraguay and against Colombia in 1994.
Clint Dempsey holds the record for the fastest goal by a U.S. player at a FIFA Men’s World Cup with a 30-second goal vs. Ghana at Brazil 2014.
The U.S. has only lost one time at the World Cup when scoring first. Its only loss came against Spain in 1950.
