Football history was made during United States’ 4-1 win over Paraguay at the 2026 World Cup on Friday night as VAR carried out a ‘Mistaken Identity’ check for the first time.

The US Men’s National Team (USMNT) secured an emphatic victory in their opening match of Group D at the SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

The joint tournament hosts, who are managed by former Tottenham and Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino, took the lead in the seventh minute courtesy of an own goal from midfielder Damian Bobadilla.

Former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun, who joined AS Monaco in 2023, then notched a brace before half-time to put USA 3-0 up at the interval.

Mauricio pulled a goal back for Paraguay with around 20 minutes left to play but Giovanni Reyna’s excellent late strike, deep into stoppage time, got the hosts’ World Cup campaign off to a dream start.

“It was the collective approach,” Pochettino told reporters, adding that his team benefitted from the crowd’s energy. “Amazing, they were amazing. We can do amazing things if the fans are in this way.”

‘Mistaken Identity’ VAR Check Seen For First Time

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During the second half, when the USA led 3-0, supporters and viewers alike were left puzzled when a VAR check for mistaken identity was seen for the very first time.

Veteran defender Tim Ream, 38, was shown a yellow card for his challenge on Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron.

After the free-kick was taken, Dutch referee Danny Makkelie was instructed to review the incident by VAR. The match official stopped play by blowing his whistle before running over to the pitch-side monitor. Realising his mistake, Makkelie overturned his decision.

The ref rescinded Ream’s yellow card and instead booked former Newcastle United star Almiron, who replays confirmed had clearly dived. Watch the incident below:

The new rule for mistaken identity – specificially requested by the legendary Pierluigi Collina, chairman of FIFA’s referees committee – is one of six major rule changes introduced for the 2026 World Cup finals.

The rule states that a decision can now be changed if a player is booked or sent off, but the foul was actually committed by the opposing team.

On this occasion, though, further confusion was sparked as the officials allowed the game to restart before stopping the action and reviewing the footage.

“They let them take the free-kick, which was bizarre but clearly the right decision,” former Wales international Ashley Williams said on BBC Sport. “It’s the first time we have seen it but fair play.”

Meanwhile, former England midfielder Danny Murphy said on commentary: “Any adaptation of the rules which means diving gets more punishment is good.”

In the same match, Zlatan Ibrahimovic went viral after taking away IShowSpeed’s microphone live on FOX Sports after the popular YouTuber said Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal will win this summer’s World Cup.

Tottenham Hotspur have been handed a huge boost as Fabrizio Romano reports that Pedro Porro has agreed the terms of a new contract with the club, amid links with a potential exit.

It comes as the Lilywhites are looking to secure the long-term future of their defence, having already announced the signings of Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson this summer.

Beyond them, there are talks to sign Jan Paul van Hecke, while exits are expected for Cristian Romero and Radu Dragusin in the coming weeks of the market.

As Tottenham continue to address how the squad is built, a new contract is set to be on the table for Porro, coming as the latest boost for Roberto De Zerbi.

Pedro Porro New Contract

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According to Fabrizio Romano, Tottenham are closing in on a new contract for Porro, as the Spanish star is set to extend his stay with the club until 2030.

Spurs signed the 26-year-old right-back in 2023, paying £39 million to land him from Sporting CP. Porro has made over 150 appearances for the club since, proving his quality in his defending, but also in the attacking areas with his crossing and set-piece ability.

Following a difficult campaign, and with only two years left on his contract, recent reports have linked the defender with a return to Manchester City, with a £60 million valuation set on the star.

However, the new contract extension is set to thwart any threat of an exit for Porro, with Romano claiming that he is viewed as “untouchable” by De Zerbi since his arrival at the club.

It’s a move that helps secure the backline even further for Tottenham moving forward, while they continue to make changes with the aim of strengthening the team.

With Porro’s deal sorted, attention may have to turn to other players in the squad who need a new contract.

Tottenham Contract Priority

Porro’s contract extension is a huge boost for Tottenham, as they look at the options they have within the squad and where they will build next.

Beyond him, Richarlison, Dane Scarlett and Ben Davies are into the final year of their contracts, though the trio may not be in line for a fresh deal.

Jumping ahead to 2028, there are contract expirations for James Maddison, Dejan Kulusevski, Guglielmo Vicario, and Ashley Phillips.

All of those options may be considered for new deals, but that may have to be closer to the time, especially with the former two battling against injury issues.

As it stands, Tottenham are in a good position with their contracts, and may push more of their focus towards signings in the coming weeks.

Manchester United could be making a mistake when it comes to the signing of Mateus Fernandes this summer.

United are in the market for new central midfielders when the summer transfer window opens next week, with Ederson the first player through the door in a £38million deal from Serie A side Atalanta.

But another is expected to arrive at Old Trafford during the summer, with new permanent head coach Michael Carrick keen to bolster his options in the middle of the park.

Man Utd look set to miss out on Elliot Anderson

A number of big-name players have been linked with a move to the club and Elliot Anderson remains the number one priority in the position, but United are refusing to enter into a bidding war for the Nottingham Forest man.

Rivals Man City have already had a £105million bid rejected by Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis and that is a figure United are not willing to stretch to in order to sign the 23-year-old.

That will mean they move on to other alternatives, and for some time West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes has been one of those, with United preparing a first bid for him.

However, he is another with a big asking price around his shoulders, with the Hammers looking for around £80million to sell him.

Again, United are hoping to haggle on the price and are prepared to wait to see if that figure comes down, but that may be a big mistake.

Speaking on GMS’ Market Madness podcast, senior football correspondent Ben Jacobs said: “I think Mateus Fernandes and the asking price kind of started before West Ham went down, so as we revealed on GMS on a previous Market Madness show, the fee that West Ham paid was £38million, plus £4million in add-ons, so there’s your £42million and then if you double that, it’s almost £85million and the asking price that West Ham want is between £80million and £85million.

“There’s some flexibility there, because it could be with add-ons, and that’s ultimately what West Ham did. If you just take £38million and double it, it’s a little bit lower, but I think West Ham’s perspective is that overall, in a mixture of guaranteed and bonuses, they want double what they paid, but that was informed to clubs before they went down, and suitors still feel that that price might drop.

“West Ham are sticking to the price for now, because the window hasn’t even opened, and due to the volume of interest you have, in particular Manchester United and PSG. Manchester United will be there and they’re already in talks on the player side. PSG could enter this race as well, and the more volume of interest, the more likely West Ham are to get a bidding war, and can stick to their asking price.

“And I think when you look at this out of context, you just see a number like £80million and you think it seems quite high, and it certainly is when you think of West Ham’s relegation and all of the turmoil at the club, but the market is just inflated.

“Bournemouth want £80million for Alex Scott. Elliot Anderson has a high price, Chelsea want £120million for Enzo Fernandez. So West Ham will be pointing to other deals in the market and saying you have to meet that valuation.”

West Ham getting relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season was expected to make things easier for interested parties to sign some of their top players on cheaper deals.

However, that is not the case.

West Ham stand by £80m price tag

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The Hammers are sticking by their price tag and while United may wait to see if the price comes down the closer we get to summer transfer deadline day, other clubs may show an interest – something West Ham are hoping will happen, like with PSG.

West Ham’s relegation, you would have thought, would already have made them rethink their asking price, given they will need all the financial power they can get in their bid to return to the Premier League as quickly as possible, but their stance remains firm.

United run the risk of another club swooping in to sign the highly-rated 21-year-old before them, or, alternatively, seeing the price remain the same and then picking the Portuguese up late in the window and then having to wait to get him up to speed with United’s philosophy.

Either way, it is a dangerous game United are playing.