Los Angeles conjures up irresistible spectacle as USA sparkle in opening act | Barney Ronay

Opening night in Los Angeles, under a powder-blue sky, showcased a World Cup opening act calibrated to project host-city confidence and spectacle. Mauricio Pochettino’s team delivered a lively, California-flavored start that felt both celebratory and pragmatic about the tournament’s ambitions. Before kickoff, pop icons and a cycle of pageantry—Katy Perry in a silver bustle and Lisa with a chorus of dancers—surrounded a gleaming FIFA sign that rose and fell above the stadium. On the pitch, the United States overwhelmed Paraguay, winning 4-1 as three goals came in the first half, and the crowd roared at a performance that fused sport with showmanship. That night embodied the tension between sport and spectacle that has defined this World Cup.