Tim Ream was involved in a significant VAR incident during the United States’ 4-1 victory over Paraguay in their FIFA World Cup opener at SoFi Stadium. The 38-year-old defender initially received a yellow card for a challenge on Paraguay’s captain, Miguel Almiron, but VAR intervened after a free kick, causing confusion among fans, players, and officials. Dutch referee Danny Makkelie, upon reviewing the replay, reversed his decision, booking Almiron for simulation and rescinding Ream’s card.
This marked the first instance of VAR rectifying a mistaken identity card at a FIFA World Cup, following new regulations allowing VAR reviews for second yellow cards and identity errors leading to wrongful dismissals. Despite the unusual turn of events, the United States continued their strong performance under Mauricio Pochettino’s management, delighting the home crowd with an entertaining display of football.
The American team took an early lead when Paraguay’s Damian Bobadilla inadvertently deflected Weston McKennie’s cut-back into his own net. Folarin Balogun extended the lead with two goals before halftime, becoming only the second U.S. player to score multiple goals in a single World Cup match. The victory showcased the United States’ resilience and skill on the field, securing a convincing win in Group D.
