Reyna scores in 1st international start in 16 months, surpasses father, as US beats Paraguay 2-1

CHESTER, Pa. (AP) — Gio Reyna scored in his first international start in 16 months to surpass his father in career goals and then set up Folarin Balogun's tiebreaking goal in the 71st minute to lead the United States over Paraguay 2-1 on Saturday night in a friendly between World Cup-bound teams that sparked a late brawl.

American defender Alex Freeman and Paraguay captain Diego Gómez both tried to pick up a ball that rolled out during second-half stoppage time, and they started scrapping as both benches joined in. Paraguay's Omar Alderete, who was not in the game, was given a red card and American midfielder Cristian Roldan a yellow card.

“That type of situation are very, very, very dangerous,” U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino. “I don’t like this type of situation.”

Playing two days after his 23rd birthday, the oft-injured Reyna scored in the fourth minute of his first start for club or country since Sept. 14 and just his second since March 1.

Álex Arce took advantage of a defensive lapse to equalize in the 10th minute.

Diego Luna and Roldan forced a turnover four minutes after entering, leading to the go-ahead goal. Juan Cáceres tried to regain possession and knocked the ball away to Balogun, who dished to Reyna. The midfielder took a touch and centered the ball, which deflected off Damián Bobadilla, and Balogun scored from from seven yards for eighth goal, his third in fourth matches.

Max Arsten got his team-high fifth assist of 2025 as the U.S. extended its unbeaten streak to four — all against World Cup teams.

Time is dwindling for U.S. players to make impressions on Pochettino, After the 16th-ranked Americans play No, 15 Uruguay on Tuesday, the U.S. will have two more friendlies in March before Pochettino announces his World Cup roster.

“That is the way that we want to compete,” Pochettino said. “The most important is what we saw during more than 90 minutes: the spirit, the fight.”

Reyna had not opened a game on the field for the U.S. since the 2024 Copa America. He scored after Sergiño Dest and Roldan had shots blocked following Arfsten’s corner kick, Arfsten crossed to Reyna, whose header from 8 yards glanced off the outstretched left fingertips of goalkeeper Orlando Gill and in off the crossbar. Reyna had never before scored a professional headed goal.

Reyna has nine goals in 33 international appearances. His father, Claudio, the U.S. captain at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, had eight in 112 games from 1994 to 2006.

“He was obviously happy for me that I passed him. I had no idea,” said Gio, who was unaware until after the game. “He was more making fun of me, the fact that was my first header I ever scored.”

No. 39 Paraguay, headed to its first World Cup since 2010, equalized when Junior Alonso played a long ball behind Joe Scally to Miguel Almirón, who one-timed a cross. Arce got away from Miles Robinson and headed the ball off a hop, beating Matt Freese with an open header for his first international goal.

Pochettino was missing Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Paraguay's Gustavo Gomez (15), United States' Sebastian Berhalter (17) and Alex Freeman (16) and Paraguay's Antonio Sanabria scuffle on the sidelines during the second half of an international friendly soccer match, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Chester, Pa. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Paraguay's Orlando Gill, left, and Damián Bobadilla (16) react after a goal scored by United States' Folarin Balogun during the second half of an international friendly soccer match, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Chester, Pa. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

Paraguay's Alex Arce (18) celebrates after scoring a goal during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against the United States, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Chester, Pa. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

United States' Gio Reyna (7) celebrates his goal during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against Paraguay, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Chester, Pa. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

United States' Gio Reyna (7) celebrates his goal during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against Paraguay, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Chester, Pa. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

United States' Gio Reyna (7) celebrates his goal during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against Paraguay, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Chester, Pa. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

United States' Gio Reyna plays the ball during the first half of an international friendly soccer match against Paraguay, Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025, in Chester, Pa. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Qatar’s prime minister on Saturday said the Gaza ceasefire has reached a “critical moment” as its first phase winds down, with the remains of one Israeli hostage still to be handed over by militants.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told a conference in the Qatari capital that international mediators, led by the U.S., are working “to force the way forward” to the second phase to cement the deal.

“What we have just done is a pause,” he told the Doha Forum. “We cannot consider it yet a ceasefire.”

He added: “A ceasefire cannot be completed unless there is a full withdrawal of Israeli forces, there is stability back in Gaza, people can go in and out, which is not the case today."

While the ceasefire halted the heavy fighting of the two-year war, Gaza health officials say that over 360 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the truce took effect on Oct. 10.

In new violence, two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike northwest of Gaza City, Shifa Hospital said.

Israel's army said it wasn't aware of an airstrike in that location. However, it said that Israeli soldiers on Saturday killed three militants who crossed the “yellow line” into Israeli-controlled northern part of Gaza and “posed an immediate threat."

The Israeli army has said it has carried out a number of attacks on Palestinians crossing the ceasefire line.

Under the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, the fighting stopped and dozens of hostages held in Gaza were exchanged for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prison. Israel sent a delegation last week to Egypt for talks on returning the remains of the last hostage.

The next phase has not begun. It includes the deployment of an international security force in Gaza, formation of a new technocratic government for the territory, disarmament of Hamas and an eventual withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Arab and Western officials told The Associated Press on Friday that an international body overseeing the ceasefire, to be led by Trump himself, is expected to be appointed by the end of the year. In the long term, the plan also calls for a possible “pathway” to Palestinian independence.

Qatar’s prime minister said that even the upcoming phase should be “temporary” and that peace in the region could only take place with the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state — something that is opposed by Israel's hard-line government.

“If we are just resolving what happened in Gaza, the catastrophe that happened in the last two years, it’s not enough,” he said. “There is a root for this conflict. And this conflict is not only about Gaza."

He added: “It’s about Gaza. It’s about the West Bank. It’s about the rights of the Palestinians for their state. We are hoping that we can work together with the U.S. administration to achieve this vision at the end of the day.”

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said there is a “big question” over the formation of an international security force for Gaza. Speaking at the conference, he said it's unclear which countries will join, what the command structure would look like and what its “first mission” will be.

Turkey is one of the guarantors of the ceasefire, but Israel, which has rocky relations with the Ankara government, has rejected any Turkish participation in the force.

“Thousands of details, questions are in place,” Fidan said. "I think once we deploy ISF, the rest will come.”

A day after an overwhelming international endorsement, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees said its future role in Gaza is unclear.

Throughout the war, Israel and the United States have sidelined UNRWA, accusing it cooperating with Hamas, a charge UNRWA denies.

Tamara Alrifai, UNRWA’s director of external relations and communications, said the agency continues to offer humanitarian and educational services in Gaza. But she said UNRWA has been excluded from U.S.-led talks on the ceasefire's second phase.

Alrifai said that UNRWA serves as the de facto “public sector” in Gaza. And with 12,000 employees, she said it will be nearly impossible for the international community to duplicate the agency's network of services.

“If you squeeze UNRWA out, what other agency can fill that void?” she said on the sidelines of the Doha Forum.

The U.S., formerly the largest donor to UNRWA, halted funding to the agency in early 2024. On Friday, the U.N. General Assembly renewed UNRWA’s mandate through 2029. But Alrifai said the cash crisis continues.

“Votes are great. Cash is better,” Alrifai said.

The war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants entered Israel, killing some 1,200 people and taking over 250 people hostage. Israel responded with an offensive that has killed over 70,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but says that nearly half the dead have been women and children. The ministry is part of Gaza's Hamas government and its numbers are considered reliable by the U.N. and other international bodies.

Find more of AP’s Israel-Hamas coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

Palestinian fishermen work in the Mediterranean Sea in the port of Gaza City, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Palestinians sit on the pavement by the Mediterranean Sea in the port of Gaza City, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

A Palestinian man and his fiancee take pictures on the Mediterranean Sea in the port of Gaza City, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Palestinians walk by the Mediterranean beach front in Gaza City, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

A Palestinian girl sits on a swing in the port of Gaza City on the Mediterranean Sea, Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

Tents sheltering displaced Palestinians stand amid the destruction left by the Israeli air and ground offensive in Gaza City Friday, Dec. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)