USMNT takes a decisive first step at Copa América by beating Bolivia

But the second-term coach and his young squad also have short-term ambition, knowing a strong performance over these three weeks would not only bolster belief but begin to recapture the public’s attention before soccer’s spectacle returns in two summers.

The first step Sunday was small but decisive. Christian Pulisic scored a sensational goal in the third minute and assisted on Folarin Balogun’s strike just before halftime as the Americans breezed to a 2-0 victory over Bolivia, one of the weakest sides in the 16-team competition.

“The guys never put it in doubt,” Berhalter said. “We were really focused from the onset — a lot of intensity, a lot of hard work — and were able to get the goal. For us, it’s just about building on this performance.”

Group C play continues Thursday in Atlanta against Panama — one of six guests from outside South America — and concludes July 1 in Kansas City, Mo., against group favorite Uruguay. Two will advance to the quarterfinals, a threshold the U.S. team has been widely expected to cross before probably facing Brazil or Colombia.

Pulisic, the 25-year-old star forward from Hershey, Pa., wore the captain’s armband, even though Tyler Adams, the 2022 World Cup leader, was in the starting lineup. Pulisic was bubbly with the ball, was determined on every touch and continued displaying the leadership qualities that began surfacing last year.

“He’s a selfless leader,” Berhalter said. “He goes out and just competes and works really hard. And then you add to the fact he is highly skilled and he can make plays on the offensive end, it’s a great combination.”

Pulisic scored from the top of the penalty area for his 30th U.S. goal, becoming the second youngest in program history, behind Landon Donovan, to get there. Later, before an announced crowd of 47,873 at AT&T Stadium, Pulisic set up Balogun for a goal that all but secured the outcome against a harmless Bolivian side.

“Key moments of the game — right at the start of the game, right before halftime,” Pulisic said. “Those goals can really hurt you or help you. And today we scored in those moments.”

The U.S. team, though, did not capitalize on numerous opportunities in the second half. Substitute Ricardo Pepi had four golden chances.

Berhalter played down the scoreless second half: “It’s about chance creation. … We’re confident the finishing will come.”

Launched in 1916, Copa América is the oldest competition between countries, predating the World Cup by 14 years and the European Championship by 44. South American soccer’s 10 core countries are perennial participants, and except for the pandemic-affected competition in 2021, at least two guests have joined the fun.

This year marked the second time the tournament has been held outside of South America. (The United States hosted in 2016 as well.) The timing this summer aligned well with U.S. preparations for the 2026 World Cup, which will take place in 16 cities across the United States, Mexico and Canada.

With regional competition filling most international dates next year, Copa América will provide some of the stiffest tests leading to the World Cup. The opener did not figure to be one of them.

Ranked last in the South American confederation and 73 slots behind the No. 11 United States in the world rankings, Bolivia has not qualified for the World Cup since 1994 and hasn’t advanced beyond the Copa quarterfinals since 1997.

The first goal began with a corner kick. Pulisic played it short to Tim Weah, who quickly returned it. To create the proper shooting angle, Pulisic pulled the ball back to the top of the penalty area before uncorking a right-footed gem on the run. It took flight, spinning and bending over goalkeeper Guillermo Viscarra.

“I didn’t even touch the ball yet,” teammate Gio Reyna said with a smile. “It’s almost like starting [the game] 1-0. It took off some pressure, and it was a beautiful goal. … We can’t expect him to do something like that every time, but he’s come up in big moments.”

As he celebrated in front of the U.S. bench, Pulisic searched in the crowd for Gianni Vio, the U.S. assistant in charge of set pieces. Berhalter and assistant B.J. Callaghan picked him out, and Pulisic pointed with both arms. On June 12, Pulisic’s goal in a friendly against Brazil came on a direct free kick from outside the box.

Vio “told me before, if I get in that situation, to basically shoot to the back post,” Pulisic said. “I just wanted to give him some credit.”

Sunday’s goal came a little more than eight years after his first — also against Viscarra and Bolivia, when Pulisic was 17. In doing so, he tied Brian McBride for No. 5 on the U.S. career scoring list.

In the 44th minute, Balogun got into the act. Pulisic made an assertive central run before pushing the ball to his left. Balogun dragged it wider before smashing a low, 16-yard shot back through the box to the far corner.

Note: With his fitness improving after recovering from injury, Adams started in defensive midfield but was replaced at halftime. He wasn’t happy about it, saying afterward that Berhalter “said we’ll check in at halftime and see how you feel. I said I felt fine. He still took me out. So that’s his plan.”

Asked about the substitution of his oft-injured midfielder, Berhalter grinned and said: “Guess what he said at halftime. Want to take a guess? We’ve been down this road. … He’s a guy that we want on the field, but we just have to be careful.”