United States Defeats Paraguay In 2026 World Cup
The United States Men’s National Soccer Team kicked off its 2026 World Cup journey with a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday (June 12).
The U.S. made history during the match, becoming the first American team to score at least four goals in a World Cup game. Adding to the historic night, Folarin Balogun, became the first American player since 1930 to score multiple goals in a single World Cup match.
One of the most memorable moments of the night came even before the opening whistle, though. The National Anthem performance captured the attention of fans inside the stadium and quickly became one of the highlights of the game.
Dan + Shay Take The Stage During 2026 World Cup
Over the past decade, Dan + Shay have become one of country music’s most successful and recognizable duos.
Made up of Dan Smyers and Shay Mooney, the duo formed in Nashville in 2012 and quickly gained attention for their vocal harmonies and emotionally driven songwriting.
The duo has produced several chart-topping hits, including “Tequila,” “Speechless,” and “10,000 Hours,” their collaboration with Justin Bieber. Throughout their career, they have also teamed up with major artists such as Charlie Puth, Kelly Clarkson, and Rascal Flatts.
In recent years, the two have also been open about the personal struggles behind their success. In 2023, the duo revealed they nearly split up due to burnout and communication challenges after years of nonstop touring and recording.
Thankfully, Dan + Shay found their way back together and have gone on to build an impressive career, continuing to achieve major success in country music.
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Dan + Shay Deliver Unforgettable Performance Of The National Anthem
Dan + Shay added another memorable moment to their career when they took the stage to perform the National Anthem before the big World Cup game.
The duo delivered a powerful rendition of the anthem, with fans throughout the crowd joining in and cheering throughout the performance. The cameras also captured actor Tom Cruise and former professional soccer legend David Beckham in the stadium.
Shortly after the performance aired on television, Fox Sports shared a video of the national anthem on social media. The clip quickly gained traction, earning more than 700,000 views within three hours.
Fans took to the comment section to share their thoughts on the performance, praising the duo for the incredible performance.
“Wow. Perfect. So powerful. Proud to be an American! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸,” one user wrote.
“@danandshay you made us so proud. Absolutely beautiful! USA!!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸,” another commented.
Watch a clip of Dan + Shay perform during the 2026 World Cup below.
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