IRVINE, Calif. – World Cup wins are sweet.
For the U.S. Men’s National Team, they may be sweeter because they have been so rare.
Since competing in the very first FIFA World Cup in Uruguay in 1930, the Americans have recorded 10 victories in 38 matches. So, that makes Friday night’s 4-1 triumph over Paraguay even that much sweeter.
Here is a quick look at the 10 World Cup wins that the USA has accrued in the past 96 years.
1. U.S. 3, Belgium 0 (1930, Uruguay)
In their World Cup debut, the Americans, nicknamed “shot putters” by the French due to the size of several players, rolled over the Belgians on July 13. Bart McGhee, Thomas Florie, and Bert Patenaude tallied as goalkeeper Jimmy Douglas notched the first clean sheet in the team’s World Cup history.
2. U.S. 3, Paraguay 0 (1930, Uruguay)
The squad registered another win by the same score on July 17. Patenaude, a 21-year-old French-Canadian born in Massachusetts, was credited with two goals, although teammates claimed he had three, which would have been the first World Cup hat-trick. For decades, Argentinian Guillermo Stabile was credited as the first player to score a World Cup hat-trick, in a 6-3 win against Mexico. However, research by then U.S. Soccer historian Colin Jose discovered that Patenaude did not get credit for a goal, and FIFA gave the American proper recognition in 2006. This result boosted the Red, White, and Blue into the semifinals, where the U.S. lost to Argentina, 6-1.
3. U.S. 1, England 0 (1950, Brazil)
This result is considered one of the greatest cup upsets, if not the greatest, as the USA stunned the heavily favored English side. England was playing in the World Cup for the first time. Joe Gaetjens scored the lone goal in the 37th minute. Frank McElvenny’s throw-in to Walter Bahr on the right side, 35 yards out, started the scoring sequence. Bahr fired a shot that Gaetjens headed home. The U.S. held off England as keeper Frank Borghi recorded the shutout. Despite being a major international upset, the result was hardly noticed in the U.S.
4. U.S. 2, Colombia 1 (1994, U.S.)
After tying Switzerland, 1-1, in its opener, the USMNT pulled off a big upset against Colombia, one of the tournament’s favorites. Andres Escobar’s own goal lifted the USA to a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute before Earnie Stewart buried an opportunity seven minutes into the second half. That victory boosted the Americans into the Round of 16.
5. U.S. 3, Portugal 2 (2002, Korea)
No one saw this result coming in the USA’s tournament opener. Late in the first half, the USA enjoyed a surprising 3-0 advantage on goals by John O’Brien (fourth minute), Jorge Costa’s own goal (29th minute), and Brian McBride (36th minute). The team managed to hold off a late surge. Coupled with a 1-1 draw with Korea, and the Korean’s 1-0 win over Portugal, the U.S. qualified for the knockout round.
6. U.S. 2, Mexico 0 (2002, Korea)
The Americans have recorded five dos a cero victories in Columbus and Cincinnati, Ohio, against their southern neighbors in World Cup qualifying. This encounter was at a neutral venue. Due to suspensions and injuries, head coach Bruce Arena was forced to play a few players out of position. It didn’t matter. McBride (eighth minute) and Landon Donovan (65th) came through with vital goals. Keeper Brad Friedel recorded the shutout.
7. U.S. 1, Algeria 0 (2010, South Africa)
Needing three points to win Group C and to advance to the Round of 16, Donovan scored a stoppage-time goal for the ages in Pretoria, South Africa. The scoring sequence took 12 seconds. Goalkeeper Tim Howard saved a seven-yard header by Rafik Saifi and threw the ball to the right side to Donovan, who raced up the field unmarked. He found Jozy Altidore with a pass. The Toronto FC striker touched it to Clint Dempsey, who took a shot as keeper Rais M’Bolhi slid in to stop it. The ball rebounded to Donovan, who slotted it in from seven yards. “The moment kind of slowed down for me,” Donovan said. “It’s a reaction. It’s good that it happened quickly. You don’t want too much time to think about it.”
8. U.S. 2, Ghana 1 (2014, Brazil)
John Brooks dreamt that he was going to score the winning goal. It became a reality in the 86th minute. The second-half substitute headed in Graham Zusi’s corner kick to lift the Americans to a victory over World Cup nemesis Ghana. The African side had eliminated the USA in the previous two cups (2006, 2010). Clint Dempsey, who became the first American to score in consecutive World Cups, put away his shot 29 seconds after the opening kickoff, the earliest U.S. goal ever in the competition. Andre Ayes equalized in the 82nd minute.
9. U.S. 1, Iran 0 (2022, Qatar)
Christian Pulisic scored his first World Cup goal in the 38th minute. Right back Sergino Dest headed a Weston McKennie cross to Pulisic, who charged to the middle of the box. Pulisic slammed the ball home from close range as he collided with goalkeeper Alireza Beyranvand. Beyranvand’s knee slammed into Pulisic’s midsection. The U.S. forward was replaced at halftime. Keeper Matt Turner recorded the clean sheet. Pulisic was able to play in the Round of 16 match, a 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands.
10. U.S. 4, Paraguay 1 (2026, U.S.)
You can make a case that this was the best performance by the USMNT in a World Cup; the team was so overwhelming. It was the first time the Americans scored four goals in a cup match. Folarin Balogun became the first U.S. player to record multiple goals in a game since Patenaude in 1930. The Americans were relentless from the opening kickoff. In the seventh minute, McKennie’s pass went off Paraguayan defender Damian Bobadilla into the net for an own goal. Then it became the Balogun show as he connected in the 31st minute and five minutes into first half added time. It was the first time an American side enjoyed a 3-0 advantage at a cup. Eight minutes into stoppage time, the U.S. put together an impressive 26 passes before substitute Gio Reyna put a bow on the match with a spectacular goal.
This winner’s list could get longer since the U.S. has two Group D matches remaining – against Australia in Seattle on June 19 and then vs. Türkiye on June 25
Michael Lewis, the sixth recipient of the Clay Berling Media Career of Excellence Award in 2025, can be followed on X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky at @Soccerwriter. His 10th soccer book, Around the World Cup in 40 Years: An American sportswriter’s perspective, has been published..
