LOS ANGELES – The United States will launch their FIFA World Cup campaign against Paraguay on Friday in Los Angeles, marking their first World Cup finals match on home soil since hosting the tournament in 1994.
Pochettino Sets High Ambitions
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino has set ambitious targets for his side, insisting the co-hosts must aim higher than simply advancing from the group stage. Led by captain Christian Pulisic, the Americans are seeking a strong start in Group D against an experienced Paraguay side.
Pulisic said the team is confident of competing with the world’s best and hopes to establish itself as a genuine contender in the tournament.
High-Profile Attendance and Opening Ceremony
The match at the state-of-the-art SoFi Stadium will be attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while President Donald Trump has indicated he plans to attend selected matches during the competition. A star-studded opening ceremony featuring singer Katy Perry will precede kickoff.
Other Teams in Action
Elsewhere, co-hosts Canada will face Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto in search of their first-ever World Cup victory, although they will be without injured star Alphonso Davies.
The tournament opened in dramatic fashion on Thursday as Mexico defeated South Africa 2-0 before more than 80,000 fans at the historic Azteca Stadium. South Korea also began their campaign with a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic.
Meanwhile, Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo said he was feeling confident ahead of joining Portugal’s World Cup campaign, where the 41-year-old is set to make a record sixth appearance at the tournament.
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