The United States begin their 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign on Friday with a high-stakes opening match against Paraguay at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
As co-hosts of the tournament alongside Mexico and Canada, the US team face immediate pressure to deliver a strong performance in front of home supporters in their first World Cup finals match on US soil in 32 years.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino said his side must aim for victory from the very start, stressing that success at the tournament will be defined by winning matches consistently.
“For me, successful is to win. Is to win tomorrow. And win after,” the former Tottenham Hotspur manager said.
“If we don’t arrive to the final and we don’t win the World Cup, to talk about ‘successful’? I don’t know.”
The US team, led by star forward Christian Pulisic, will be expected to prove they can compete with the world’s elite while handling the pressure of playing at home.
Pulisic expressed confidence in the squad’s ability, saying they are ready for the challenge ahead.
“We want to be a real force in this tournament,” he said. “We’ve got three really good games to show everyone what we’re all about.”
Pochettino also emphasised the need for physical and tactical resilience, noting that South American teams bring a “streetwise” style that the US must match.
“We know we have to be ready to battle. It’s not about just playing beautiful football,” he said.
The opening match in Los Angeles will be attended by US Secretary of State Mario Rubio, while former President Donald Trump has indicated he may attend selected games during the tournament.
The fixture will be preceded by a Hollywood-style opening ceremony featuring international pop star Katy Perry and other music performers.
Elsewhere, Canada will also begin their World Cup journey on Friday when they face Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto, seeking their first-ever victory at the tournament.
Canada will be without key player Alphonso Davies, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury.
The tournament officially kicked off in Mexico City on Thursday with a vibrant opening ceremony featuring Shakira and Burna Boy, as Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 in the opening match.
Julian Quiñones scored after nine minutes before Raúl Jiménez added a second goal, though the match was overshadowed by three red cards in a tense encounter.
The Estadio Azteca became the first stadium in history to host matches at three different World Cups, as fans witnessed a lively but occasionally chaotic atmosphere.
Outside the stadium, protests erupted involving teachers, activists and relatives of missing persons, with clashes reported between protesters and police.
In other results, South Korea began their campaign with a 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic, securing a late win through substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu.
The early stages of the tournament have also been marked by criticism of high ticket prices and concerns over immigration enforcement affecting fans, officials and teams entering the United States.
Despite off-field controversies, the World Cup action has delivered early excitement, with 48 teams competing in the expanded tournament set to conclude in New Jersey on July 19.
