The United States initiated them. FIFA World Cup campaign with a stunning 4-1 win over Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium on Saturday, but the match will also be remembered for a crucial VAR decision involving veteran defender Tim Ream.The incident came to light in the second half when Dutch referee Danny Meckley showed Reim a yellow card, saying the 38-year-old had fouled Paraguay captain Miguel Almiron. Moments later, however, confusion spread through the stadium as VAR stepped in despite having already taken the free kick.Players, match officials and fans from both sides were left waiting as Macleay reviewed the footage on the pitch-side monitor. After reviewing the replay, the referee overturned his initial call, withdrawing Ream’s yellow card and instead booking Almiron for simulation.This decision was declared historic for the first time in the FIFA World Cup. It was the first time that VAR was used to correct a wrong-identity booking under the tournament’s revised review regulations. FIFA’s head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, previously endorsed the wider use of VAR, and recommended that officials be allowed to review dismissals resulting from other yellow cards and cases of mistaken identity. While second yellow cards are usually reviewed, first cautions are traditionally outside the purview of the VAR.The unusual setback did nothing to deter the hosts, who produced an entertaining and dominant display under Mauricio Pochettino in front of a lively home crowd.The breakthrough began when Paraguayan midfielder Damien Bobadilla inadvertently turned Weston McKenney’s cut-back attempt into his own net. The Americans continued to push forward and were rewarded by Folarin Balogan, who doubled the advantage before scoring another goal before the break.Balogan’s brace helped the United States build a commanding 3-0 lead by halftime and earned him a spot in the record books. The striker became the second American player to score multiple goals in a World Cup match.With a convincing victory and a memorable VAR milestone, the United States enjoyed a near-perfect start to their World Cup journey.
