Los Angeles, USA - American football fans celebrated a historic day as the national team defeated Paraguay 4-1 at home in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. A festive atmosphere enveloped SoFi Stadium, with tens of thousands in attendance.
Alex Saldivar, 23, said: "This is a dream come true, really a dream come true. I can't say anything else." Saldivar left the stadium with an American flag draped over his shoulder, an unmistakable radiant smile on his face.
Tens of thousands of fans flocked to SoFi Stadium, wearing colorful outfits featuring American symbols: oversized hats, red-and-white striped overalls, blue-and-white hair, star-spangled pants, painted faces, and Uncle Sam costumes. Fans expressed their love for the flag and colors in every possible way.
Michele Churchill from Virginia brought her three children to the opening match, calling it a "bucket list" event. She predicted the US team would win the tournament: "They are going to win. They are going to bring the cup home."
Despite security and logistical concerns, everything went smoothly thanks to the presence of multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Transportation Security Administration, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Department of Homeland Security, as well as the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and Inglewood Police Department. Many officers worked with K9 units.
The atmosphere inside the stadium heated up when singer Katy Perry performed before kick-off. Chants of "USA, USA" grew louder, reaching a peak when the home team scored in the 7th minute via a Paraguay own goal. Subsequent goals came from Folarin Balogun (a brace) and Giovanni Reyna with a stunning strike from outside the box.
The announcer reported over 70,000 attendees, though the most expensive seats remained empty. This was likely due to high ticket prices and President Donald Trump's travel policies affecting foreign attendance. Despite this, the World Cup delivered joy, excitement, and a spirit of unity as football promises.
