LOS ANGELES – In the foothills of Hollywood, where aspiration meets storytelling, the eight-year dream of a beautiful opening to FIFA World Cup 2026 on American soil became a reality.
More than 70,000 people packed Los Angeles Stadium to cheer on the U.S. Men’s National Team as it defeated Paraguay 4-1 to open play in Group D on Friday. The storybook night for the U.S. Men’s National officially welcomed the tournament to the country for the first time in 32 years.
The fans, many of them in Stripes jerseys to match the U.S. players on the pitch, understood the meaning of such an occasion and brought an incredible amount of energy. The full house created an exciting scene at what is already one of the most visually striking sports venues in the world. American culture was on display, with pre-match performances and an electric, winning result, to show the world that soccer in the U.S. is real and vibrant.
That buzz in the stadium was so palpable, in fact, that one person in particular took notice: USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
“They were amazing,” the manager said in his post-match press conference. “On behalf of the whole team, massive thank you to the fans because the energy that they translated to the team was amazing. We can do amazing things if the fans are in this as well.”
Fans of USA at the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium (Photo by Matt McNulty - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
His team dominated its first group stage match of the tournament, one that he himself predicted would be a “tough test,” for his 26-player squad. The Americans jumped to a 3-0 lead before halftime, the first time the U.S. has ever led an opponent by that margin in a FIFA World Cup after 45 minutes.
It was a superb showing, one that the head coach described as a “collective,” a true team performance from top to bottom. Players deserved the credit for not only scoring four goals, the most in any World Cup match in history for the U.S., but also handling a scrappy Paraguay side and limiting their chances to just one shot on goal.
Pochettino credited his players including Tim Ream, Alex Freeman, Christian Pulisic, goal scorers Folarin Balogun and Gio Reyna. But as soon as he reviewed the players, he quickly and genuinely acknowledged the support the fans gave them.
“It was amazing for our fans to watch this type of game,” he said. “Today, I am so proud, and we are so proud because we are winning a lot of fans and adding fans to the sport here in America.”
Pochettino, a native of Argentina, has always preached passion. After the Concacaf Gold Cup Final in 2025, he pleaded for Americans to buy into his team and support them because the team would very much need their support in one year’s time. He wanted American soccer fans to do more than just follow the team on Instagram – he asked them to bring energy to the stadium for matches, and not just show up once, but stay with the team and back it.
So, as the leader of the U.S. Men’s National Team, Pochettino lent his voice to preach the gospel of soccer, and Americans showed Friday in a massive way that they have it in their hearts to ardently believe.
“When you talk about America – that passion, that feeling – today, they were amazing,” Pochettino told FOX after the match. “And now, they realize that soccer here in America is massive. It’s big. Be careful, other sports.”
Mauricio Pochettino applauds the fans after the team's victory over Paraguay (Photo by John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images)
It wouldn’t be an event in L.A. without some celebrity sightings. Leonardo DiCaprio, Halle Berry, Tom Cruise, David Beckham, Paris Hilton, Candace Parker, Hilary Duff, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jamie Foxx and more added to the star-spangled spirit throughout the venue.
Los Angeles Stadium wasn’t the only place packed and buzzing. Watch parties in nearly every state and every city matched the excitement in the stadium for tonight’s match. Places like Atlanta, Dallas, Boston, New York City, and down the road in Venice Beach, the home to U.S. Soccer House presented by Bank of America, drew hundreds and thousands of fans. They dressed in red, white and blue, led the chants, and cheered emphatically for every one of the USMNT’s four goals on the night.
U.S. fans celebrate the United States victory over Paraguay at the U.S. Soccer House in Venice Beach (Photo by Luiza Moraes/USSF/Getty Images)
Part of the energy is the culmination of eight years of build-up. When the U.S. along with Mexico and Canada, won the bid in 2018 to host this year’s tournament, eight years down the road felt like a distant but promising future. The hope then was to elevate the sport of soccer in America and meet the moment with the greatest, most competitive edition the sport has seen in the tournament’s 96-year history.
Last night, players and fans alike were able to live out the day they’ve been dreaming about. With the tournament underway, that build-up takes on a new form of excitement. Now, it’s a matter of how far this USMNT can go, how far this dream will take them. The energy and belief from a hopeful nation will pour into the team itself, as the U.S. continues with two more group stage fixtures on the West Coast. With the first game done, the weight of expectation can be shed. Now, it’s time to keep playing football.
To keep cheering, to keep believing and to keep winning.
“We need to enjoy the start of the tournament but know that we need to keep going and try to improve and try to do better than this game because all the games are very competitive,” Pochettino said.
