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By Joe Edwards
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The United States Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT) launched its home World Cup campaign with an emphatic statement on Friday night, defeating Paraguay 4-1 in their Group D opener at a sold-out Los Angeles Stadium.
The Americans effectively secured the match in the first half, racing to a commanding three-goal lead. Forward Folarin Balogun netting two historic goals, capitalizing on an early Paraguay own goal that opened the scoring. Gio Reyna added a fourth late in the second half to seal the dominant performance.
"It's an amazing result," U.S. captain Tim Ream told Reuters following the match. "It's exactly the way we wanted to start the tournament."
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Yet almost as striking as the scoreline was the audience. The sellout crowd included a conspicuous A-list contingent, giving the opener the feel of a major Los Angeles event as much as a pivotal soccer match.
The festivities began with a high-energy opening ceremony headlined by global pop star Katy Perry, who performed alongside an international lineup of artists including LISA, Anitta, Tyla, Rema, Future, Dan + Shay, and Purahéi Soul.
The star-studded crowd also featured soccer legend David Beckham—who was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame earlier in the day—sitting alongside Hollywood veteran Tom Cruise. High-profile figures from film, tech, and sports, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Bill Gates, and NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, were also in attendance.
The U.S. team will look to carry this momentum into their second group-stage match against Australia, scheduled for June 19 in Seattle.
Here is a list of celebrities who were seen at the match:
Notable Attendees & Performers
Opening Ceremony Performers:
- Katy Perry (Headliner)
- LISA
- Anitta
- Tyla
- Rema
- Future
- Dan + Shay
- Purahéi Soul
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Hollywood & Entertainment
- Tom Cruise
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- George Lucas
- Halle Berry
- Jamie Foxx
- Owen Wilson
- Vince Vaughn
- Rob Lowe
- Guillermo (Late-night personality)
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Music Industry Spectators
- Becky G
- Teyana Taylor
- Shaboozey
Sports Legends & Executives
- David Beckham (International soccer icon)
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (NBA Hall of Famer)
- Jaxson Dart (New York Giants quarterback)
- Jameis Winston (New York Giants quarterback)
- Michael Rubin (Fanatics chief executive)
Public Figures & High-Profile Guests
- Victoria Beckham (Fashion designer, singer, and television personality)
- Marissa Ayers (Dart's girlfriend)
- Bill Gates (Co-founder of Microsoft / philanthropist)
- Paris Hilton (Media personality)
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