Latin America Sports Daily for Saturday, June 13, 2026

Balogun scores twice, Pulisic runs the show — USA put four past Paraguay in Los Angeles

The crowd at SoFi Stadium barely had time to settle before the United States were ahead: Christian Pulisic split the defence, found Weston McKennie, and Damián Bobadilla turned the ball into his own net in the seventh minute.

From there, the USA were comfortable, Pulisic relentless, and Folarin Balogun clinical in a way that silenced any doubt about his readiness for a tournament stage.

Balogun scored twice in the first half to make it 3-0, and when Gio Reyna added a fourth late on, the 4-1 final became the most goals the United States have ever scored in a single World Cup match.

Paraguay scored a consolation, but it could not disguise what was a comprehensive defeat in a game that saw the host nation perform with a confidence and purpose that will put every other group-stage opponent on notice.

Pulisic said afterwards: “All in all, just an incredible start. But there’s a lot more we still have to do.”

Balogun’s two goals were the story of the night technically: clinical finishes from a striker who has taken time to assert himself internationally but showed here that he belongs at this level.

Julio Enciso did not start, his double injury to the side and lower back having kept him out of the opening lineup as expected.

For Paraguay, the defeat is painful but not fatal; Group D (USA, Paraguay, Australia, Türkiye) remains very open, and Gustavo Alfaro’s side have both the defensive structure and the tactical intelligence to recover.

Their next match is against Türkiye on June 19.

A point there, and their path to the round of 32 is still alive.

Brazil vs Morocco — tonight at 6pm ET, the neighbours finally meet

Two weeks of sharing the same patch of New Jersey, fifteen minutes apart, watching each other’s training clips on the same analytical databases, and now at last, they play.

Brazil vs Morocco kicks off tonight at 6pm ET at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the two teams that have been each other’s most researched opponents since the draw was made.

Brazil’s expected starting lineup: Alisson; Danilo, Gabriel Magalhães, Marquinhos, Guilherme Arana; Bruno Guimarães, Casemiro; Raphinha, Lucas Paquetá, Vinicius Júnior; Endrick.

Ancelotti described Raphinha’s positioning in his Thursday press conference as the key tactical element: staying deep, close to the last line, to burst in behind Morocco’s high defensive line rather than taking up space already occupied.

Morocco set up in a tight, organised shape that gives almost nothing away: they conceded an average of 0.7 goals per competitive game in 2024-25, and under Mohamed Ouahbi their transition defending is the most disciplined in the group.

Noussair Mazraoui spoke this week about looking forward to marking Matheus Cunha, a detail that felt like a small psychological operation more than honest tactical reflection, since Cunha is not expected to start.

Neymar is in the squad and in the stadium but will not be on the pitch.

His June 12 MRI result was not published at the time this edition went to press; whatever it shows, it will shape the Haiti game conversation rather than this one.

Morocco’s most dangerous weapon is the speed of Sofiane Boufal and Brahim Díaz in behind on the counter; Vinicius’s defensive tracking will be one of the most watched tactical questions of the evening.

Brazil have not lost a World Cup opener in their last four tournaments.

Morocco have not either.

One of those records ends today.

Ecuador tomorrow, Argentina Monday — South America’s week builds

After Brazil play tonight, four more South American nations open their World Cup campaigns over the following four days.

Ecuador — Sunday June 14, 7pm ET, Philadelphia

vs Ivory Coast at Lincoln Financial Field. Nineteen games unbeaten since September 2024; Pacho and Caicedo both fit; losing to Ivory Coast would be a genuine shock.

Uruguay — Sunday June 15, 6pm ET, Miami

vs Saudi Arabia at Hard Rock Stadium. Bielsa’s side are fully fit; Darwin Núñez leads the attack; a win here gives Uruguay the confidence needed before the Spain matchday.

Argentina — Monday June 16, 9pm ET, Kansas City

vs Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium. Messi broke a 69-year scoring record against Iceland eight days ago; Algeria are serious opponents but Argentina should win.

Colombia — Tuesday June 17, Estadio Azteca, Mexico City

vs Uzbekistan. The most comfortable opener of any South American nation. Luis Díaz and Cucho Hernández lead the attack; Néstor Lorenzo’s side could not ask for a gentler first match in Group K.

Six Brazilian clubs enter the Copa Libertadores quarter-weeks — tonight is why they’re watching

Libertadores

While the World Cup plays out in the United States, Brazil’s six Copa Libertadores Round of 16 clubs are watching closely, partly out of national pride, and partly for practical reasons.

Tonight’s Brazil vs Morocco match features Vinicius Júnior, Bruno Guimarães, Marquinhos, Casemiro, and Endrick in the starting lineup; players whose fitness and minutes through the next four weeks will directly shape what Flamengo, Palmeiras, Mirassol, and Corinthians have available when the Copa Libertadores Round of 16 first legs begin on August 11.

Flamengo’s most pressing concern is the Wesley França withdrawal: the Rubro-Negro’s starting right-back for the Copa Libertadores clash against Cruzeiro is now sidelined, and whoever replaces him through the Brasileirão restart on July 22 must establish themselves quickly in a three-week window before the continental knockout stage.

Mirassol, meanwhile, face LDU Quito in the first leg at altitude in Ecuador, a tie that was always about more than tactics, and has become more complex since Mirassol’s league form entering the pause left them just three points above the relegation zone.

The Copa Sudamericana playoffs begin July 21-23, one day before the Brasileirão restarts; Vasco, Santos, and Bragantino are all in action in that window.

Game 5 in San Antonio tonight — one win from ending 53 years

NBA

Tonight is one of the most unusual Saturday evenings in North American sport: the NBA Finals’ most important game in 27 years begins in San Antonio at 8:30pm ET, two and a half hours after Brazil and Morocco kick off in New Jersey.

The Knicks are one win from the title, three wins from the greatest postseason run in their history, having already survived the sport’s largest Finals comeback on Wednesday night.

The Spurs have led every single Finals game by double figures at some point, but still trail 3-1.

The question is whether Wembanyama can do something that has never been done in NBA Finals history: lead a team back from 3-1 down to win the title.

De’Aaron Fox’s ankle is a concern after his late-game limitations in Game 4; league insiders have pointed to Spurs rookie Dylan Harper as a player expected to have greater involvement from Game 5 onwards.

If San Antonio wins tonight, the series goes to Game 6 in New York on Monday, the same day Argentina play Algeria in Kansas City.

Result and full analysis in tomorrow’s edition, which will also carry the full Brazil vs Morocco report.

Frequently asked questions

FAQ

What happened in USA vs Paraguay at the World Cup?

The United States beat Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on the night of June 12, the most goals the USA have ever scored in a single World Cup match.

Damián Bobadilla turned a Pulisic-McKennie move into his own net in the seventh minute; Balogun added two in the first half; Reyna rounded off the scoring late on. Paraguay scored a consolation; Enciso did not start because of his double injury.

Pulisic was outstanding throughout. Paraguay next play Türkiye on June 19; Group D remains open despite Friday’s result.

What is Brazil’s lineup for the Morocco game today?

Brazil’s expected starting eleven for the Morocco opener at 6pm ET today at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey: Alisson; Danilo, Gabriel Magalhães, Marquinhos, Guilherme Arana; Bruno Guimarães, Casemiro; Raphinha, Lucas Paquetá, Vinicius Júnior; Endrick.

Danilo starts at right-back following Wesley França’s withdrawal; Neymar is in the squad but will not play. Ancelotti’s last public words were “the idea is clear,” with Raphinha instructed to stay deep and attack the space behind Morocco’s line.

What is Paraguay’s situation in Group D after the 4-1 loss?

Paraguay sit at the bottom of Group D after Friday’s heavy defeat; the USA are top with three points.

Paraguay face Türkiye on June 19 and Australia on June 25; a win against Türkiye puts them back in contention. Alfaro’s defensive structure, which conceded just 14 goals in 18 CONMEBOL qualifiers, should perform better against Türkiye than it did on Friday.