Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – The United States launch their World Cup challenge on Friday, taking on Paraguay in the first game in the tournament on US soil for 32 years. The World Cup co-hosts are determined to avoid slipping up against the savvy South Americans at the futuristic SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
US head coach Mauricio Pochettino says he expects his team to do much more than simply progress from Group D. “For me, successful is to win, is to win tomorrow and win after,” the former Tottenham coach said on Thursday. “If we don’t arrive to the final and we don’t win the World Cup, to talk about ‘successful’? I don’t know.”
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A talented crop of US players led by Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie need to prove themselves against the world’s best, while dealing with the pressure of playing in front of their own fans. Pulisic insisted that the squad around him is “able to compete with anyone.” “We want to be a real force in this tournament,” he told AFP. “We’ve got three really good games to show everyone what we’re all about.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be at the match. President Donald Trump has said he will attend the World Cup, without specifying which games. The game will be preceded by a Hollywood-style opening ceremony featuring Katy Perry and a host of music stars.
In Friday’s first game, co-hosts Canada earned the first World Cup point in its history when Cyle Larin grabbed a second-half equaliser in Toronto to make it 1-1 after Bosnia-Herzegovina had taken the lead with a close-range header from Jovo Lukic. “It was special for me. I was ready to come and help the team. I thought the goals would come. I score when Canada needs me, and always have done,” Larin said. Canadian entertainment royalty including film stars Ryan Reynolds and Mike Myers were in the packed crowd to watch the first-ever World Cup match on Canadian soil.
Off the pitch, Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey, who is facing trial in Britain on rape charges, has been denied a visa to enter Canada. FIFA said Partey “will be unable to travel from Ghana’s team base camp in Boston, USA, to Canada for their first match against Panama on Wednesday, 17 June, as his visa application has been refused by the Canadian government.” The 32-year-old will be eligible to play in Ghana’s subsequent Group L games against England and Croatia, both taking place in the United States.
Trump’s immigration policies have created problems for nationals from certain countries. Somali referee Omar Artan was denied entry to the United States despite having a valid visa. And US authorities have refused visas to some members of the Iran team’s support staff as well as Senegalese and Ivory Coast fans.
As England prepare to attempt to end their 60-year wait for a major trophy, key midfielder Jude Bellingham said every member of the squad must feel “loved.” The Real Madrid player admitted things were not right off the pitch at Euro 2024, where the team then coached by Gareth Southgate were beaten in the final by Spain. Southgate’s successor, the German Thomas Tuchel, has spoken of creating a “brotherhood” in the squad.
The World Cup kicked off in dramatic fashion in Mexico City on Thursday where co-hosts Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in a game that featured three red cards. Julian Quinones scored the opening goal of the tournament early in the game and 35-year-old striker Raul Jimenez headed in Mexico’s second at the Estadio Azteca. There was a festive atmosphere inside the stadium, but outside dozens of protesters clashed with police in chaotic scenes.
South Korea defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 in the opening day’s second game. The World Cup, expanded to 48 teams, will culminate in the final in New Jersey on July 19.
© 2024 AFP
