The 2026 FIFA World Cup delivered a landmark refereeing moment during the United States‘ opening group stage clash against Paraguay on Friday night. The Video Assistant Referee, or VAR, stepped in to transfer a yellow card from an American defender to the Paraguayan forward who had dived to win it – the first occasion the sport’s mistaken identity protocol has been used to penalise simulation in this manner.
The incident took place in the 53rd minute at SoFi Stadium, with the United States already cruising at 3-0 and the match all-but-over. Paraguay captain Miguel Almiron tumbled after minimal contact from United States defender Tim Ream, and referee Danny Makkelie swiftly brandished a yellow card for the Charlotte FC defender.
However, VAR intervened and Makkelie was summoned to the pitchside monitor, where he studied the replays. The footage showed Almiron had not been fouled, had taken three full strides after losing possession before throwing himself to the ground theatrically.
There had been no meaningful contact whatsoever. The referee returned from the screen, rescinded the booking against Ream, and showing the yellow card to Almiron for diving.
The intervention served to highlight one of the most significant rule changes FIFA had introduced ahead of this tournament. For the first time at a major competition, VAR has been granted enhanced authority over specific corner-kick decisions, erroneous second yellow cards and, crucially, instances of mistaken identity.
Match officials can now rectify a broader range of clear and obvious errors than was previously permitted, including scenarios where the wrong player is handed a disciplinary sanction.
View 2 ImagesReferee Danny Makkelie speaks with Miguel Almiron and Tim Read after VAR intervened for mistaken identity(Image: (Photo by Sarah Stier – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images))
The incident provided a fleeting talking point in a match that had otherwise been utterly dominated by the United States.
The hosts made a dream start to their World Cup journey, racing into a 3-0 lead by the interval in front of a thunderous SoFi Stadium crowd in what seemed like the most impressive 45 minutes in recent USMNT history.
The breakthrough arrived in the seventh minute, Christian Pulisic surging forward and picking out Weston McKennie, whose delivery was bundled into his own net by the luckless Damian Bobadilla.
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Folarin Balogun then stole the spotlight, first seeing a goal correctly chalked off for offside before netting twice, a composed finish from a Pulisic assist and then a magnificent weak-foot strike into the top corner in stoppage time.
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Pulisic was the catalyst throughout, his assist drawing him level with Clint Dempsey for fourth place in USMNT history with 21 career assists. Paraguay pulled one back in the 73rd minute through a slick team move, Julio Enciso threading a sublime pass to his teammate, who coolly slotted past Matt Freese to reduce the deficit to 3-1.
Gio Reyna then capped off the victory in stoppage time with a stunning outside-of-the-foot finish, helping the side launch their World Cup campaign with a winning start.
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