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During USA’s opening fixture of the World Cup 2026, the co-hosts became the beneficiaries of a new rule that has now been debuted at the tournament.
Facing off against Paraguay, the USMNT scored three goals in the first half during a seemingly endless wave of American attacks.
Ten minutes into the second half, fortune favoured the USA once more, this time not through a goal, but through the use of a long-awaited ‘mistaken identity’ ruling — but what is that?
The ‘mistaken identity’ yellow card reversal rule, debuted during USA vs Paraguay at the World Cup 2026
USA's Tim Ream seemingly delivered a crunching tackle on Paraguay forward Miguel Almiron, sending the latter crashing to the ground.
It appeared that Ream clattered into Almiron’s body without touching the ball, causing the USMNT captain to receive a yellow card… until the World Cup debuted its new rule.
The ‘mistaken identity’ rule allows a yellow card to be overturned through a VAR check, which resulted in Almiron instead receiving a booking for simulation.
The technology intervened, prompting referee Danny Makkelie to visit the screen and see whether his initial decision was incorrect.
After a period of deliberation, the Dutchman concluded that his ruling was the result of deception from Almiron, who simulated contact.
In turn, the ‘mistaken identity’ rule allowed Makkelie to overturn his decision, reversing Ream’s yellow card and giving it instead to Almiron.
This marked the first VAR intervention for mistaken identity at the World Cup, named ‘mistaken identity’ to describe when a player deceives the referee.
The USMNT are on their way to a remarkable Group D opening fixture win, with goals from Folarin Balogun, who bagged a brace, and a Paraguay own goal courtesy of Damien Bobadilla.
The latter goal, the match’s opening strike, arrived through Christian Pulisic trickery, dribbling past multiple players on the left flank.
USA limited Paraguay to zero Big Chances in 70 minutes, creating four for themselves, in front of a packed, largely home crowd at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, before Julio Enciso set up Mauricio for a strike back in the 73rd minute.
Giovanni Reyna then hit a final dagger into Paraguayan hearts with a wonderful trivela finish in the 97th minute.
The USMNT will now look ahead to their next Group D fixture against Australia on June 19, as the Americans aim to secure knock-out football.
