US beats Paraguay 4-1 in World Cup opener, VAR makes history

The United States kicked off their FIFA World Cup campaign with an impressive 4-1 win over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium on Saturday, but the match will also be remembered for a groundbreaking VAR decision involving veteran defender Tim Ream. The incident unfolded in the second half when Dutch referee Danny Makkelie showed Ream a yellow card after appearing to rule that the 38-year-old had fouled Paraguay captain Miguel Almirón. Moments later, however, confusion spread across the stadium as VAR stepped in despite the resulting free kick already having been taken. Players from both sides, match officials and spectators were left waiting as Makkelie reviewed the footage on the pitch-side monitor. After examining the replay, the referee overturned his initial call, withdrawing Ream's yellow card and instead booking Almirón for simulation. The decision marked a historic first at a FIFA World Cup. It was the first occasion on which VAR had been used to correct a mistaken-identity booking under the tournament's revised review regulations. FIFA's head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, had previously endorsed the expanded use of VAR, recommending that officials be allowed to review second yellow cards and dismissals resulting from cases of mistaken identity. While second yellow cards are generally reviewable, first cautions have traditionally fallen outside VAR's remit. The unusual interruption did little to affect the hosts, who produced an entertaining and dominant display under Mauricio Pochettino in front of a vibrant home crowd. The breakthrough arrived early when Paraguay midfielder Damian Bobadilla inadvertently turned Weston McKennie's attempted cut-back into his own net. The Americans continued to press forward and were rewarded through Folarin Balogun, who doubled the advantage before adding another goal before the interval. Balogun's brace helped the United States establish a commanding 3-0 lead by half-time and also earned him a place in the record books. The striker became only the second American player to score multiple goals in a single World Cup match. With a convincing victory and a memorable VAR milestone, the United States enjoyed a near-perfect start to their World Cup journey.