USMNT Recap: The Gio Reyna Revenge Game

Gio Reyna has inserted himself into the 2026 World Cup roster conversation

Photo By J. Alexander Dolan

The United States Men’s National Team faced off against Paraguay in a friendly on Saturday evening in Chester, Pennsylvania, and beyond the 2-1 win, one man stole the show.

Gio Reyna made his first appearance since a Concacaf Nations League match against Canada on March 23 and his first start since July 2024 against Uruguay in the Copa América tournament.

Reyna went on to open the scoring for the USMNT in the fourth minute. The forward was in the right place at the right time. After numerous attempts at finding the back of the net, Max Arfsten sent a cross into the box and found the forehead of the Borussia Mönchengladbach man.

The United States went on to allow a goal six minutes later, a breakdown in defending that doesn’t paint Tim Ream and Miles Robinson in the best light. Paraguay moved up the pitch, eventually carrying possession to the far corner of the final third and a Miguel Almiron cross found a diving Alex Arce who headed the ball past goalkeeper Matt Freese.

Both sides would get some additional chances, but the match didn’t heat up until the second half. After a slow start, midway through the second half the USMNT attack came back alive. Folarin Balogun and Reyna had some great interplay and the Monaco striker was able to get his foot on a deflected pass and blasted his shot into the back of the net in the 71st minute.

Paraguay would fight back and that verbiage became quite literal as Alex Freeman and Gustavo Gomez got into a scrap that became an all-out brawl in stoppage time.

But the match would end afterwards with no more scuffles and the USMNT secured a 2-1 win.