INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Team USA prepares to kick off its World Cup journey Friday evening when they take on Paraguay in their first home tournament appearance in over three decades.
An enthusiastic crowd in Southern California gathered early to support the American squad, which enters the competition with considerable expectations. This marks the final opening match for the tournament’s three host countries. With midfielder Christian Pulisic leading a veteran core, the United States has climbed to 17th in FIFA’s world rankings and harbors genuine hopes of claiming their group before potentially advancing past the knockout round for only the second time in World Cup competition.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino will guide the Americans in their tournament debut at SoFi Stadium, the billion-dollar venue that opened in 2020 to house the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. While the cutting-edge facility typically features synthetic turf that draws criticism from American football players, natural grass has been laid down for the global soccer tournament.
Hours before the opening whistle, supporters began flooding the stadium and its surrounding areas. Among the thousands wearing American jerseys and chanting player names, numerous fans appeared in creative outfits, transforming themselves into characters ranging from the Statue of Liberty to the Founding Fathers.
America’s last stint as World Cup host came in 1994, when the team managed only one victory in four games during Brazil’s championship run. Since that time, soccer’s popularity has grown significantly across the country, with youth involvement surging and Major League Soccer, which launched in 1996, developing into a respectable professional league.
The tournament, featuring more teams than any previous World Cup, began Thursday when co-host Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0. Earlier Friday in Toronto, fellow co-host Canada battled to a 1-1 tie with Bosnia and Herzegovina in their opening contest.
The American team will contest two of their three group matches in Inglewood, with a scheduled trip to Seattle between their California appearances.
