World Cup 2026: USA to play their first home game in 32 years.

At the 2026 World Cup, the US national team will begin their campaign with a match against Paraguay at the SoFi Arena in Los Angeles on June 13th. This will be the first World Cup match to be held on US soil since the 1994 World Cup.

As one of the three co-hosting nations along with Canada and Mexico, the United States is expected to go far in this year's tournament. Coach Mauricio Pochettino has stated that the team's goal is not just to get past the group stage.

"I think success is winning. Winning tomorrow's match and continuing to win. If we don't reach the final and don't win the World Cup, it's hard to say that's success," the Argentinian strategist said before the match.

The US boasts several players currently playing in Europe, such as Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie. This generation of players is expected to help the national team compete with the world's top rivals.

Pulisic expressed confidence ahead of the opening match.

"We want to become a real force in this tournament. The three group stage matches are an opportunity to prove ourselves," he told AFP.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to be in the stands to watch the match. President Donald Trump has also said he will attend the World Cup but has not yet announced which specific match he will play.

Before kick-off, the opening ceremony in Los Angeles will be held in Hollywood style, featuring singer Katy Perry and many other music stars.

The 2026 World Cup marks a historic milestone for Canada.

Prior to the US match, co-hosts Canada earned their first ever point in World Cup history after a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto.

Jovo Lukic put Bosnia and Herzegovina ahead with a close-range header. However, Cyle Larin equalized in the second half to help Canada salvage a point.

"That was a special moment for me. I'm always ready to help the team when given the opportunity," Larin shared.

The match attracted great interest from Canadian fans. Actors Ryan Reynolds and Mike Myers were also in the stands, witnessing the first World Cup ever held on Canadian soil.

Off-field obstacles

Alongside the vibrant atmosphere of the world's biggest football festival, several issues related to visas and immigration are also attracting attention.

FIFA has announced that Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey will be unable to travel to Canada for the match against Panama on June 17th after his visa application was rejected.

According to FIFA, Partey will not be able to travel from Ghana's training camp in Boston to Canada for the first match. However, he is still eligible to participate in Ghana's remaining matches against England and Croatia in the United States.

Additionally, Somali referee Omar Artan was reportedly denied entry into the US despite possessing a valid visa. Several members of the Iranian team's support staff, along with fans from Senegal and Ivory Coast, also faced difficulties in obtaining visas.

These incidents occurred amidst continued scrutiny of US immigration policy as the 2026 World Cup is scheduled to be held in North America.

Mexico wins the opening match.

The 2026 World Cup officially kicked off on June 12th with Mexico's 2-0 victory over South Africa at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

Julian Quinones scored the first goal of the tournament. Veteran striker Raul Jimenez then doubled the lead for the home team. The match saw three red cards and a frenzied atmosphere in the stands.

However, outside the stadium, dozens of protesters clashed with police.

In the other match of the opening day, South Korea defeated the Czech Republic 2-1.

The 2026 World Cup will be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams. The final is scheduled to take place in New Jersey (USA) on July 19th.