The World Cup kicked off with Mexico hosting the opening ceremony and defeating South Africa 2-0 in an energetic home atmosphere. The U.S. men’s national team will begin its World Cup journey tonight in Los Angeles against Paraguay, with full coverage throughout the day and post-game analysis available on NBC News’ website.
World Cup Recap
Mexico opened the tournament with a dynamic match, facing three red cards in total. Julián Quiñones and Raúl Jiménez scored for Mexico in front of 80,824 fans at Azteca Stadium. South Africa’s Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane received red cards, leaving them with nine players. In injury time, Mexico defender César Montes was also sent off. This match saw three red cards in a World Cup opener for the first time, the most in a World Cup game since Portugal played the Netherlands in 2006.
Mexico’s coach Javier Aguirre commented on the match, stating that they performed better in the first half, with opportunities to lead by 3-0, and recognized room for improvement despite the win.
In another match, South Korea overcame Czechia 2-1. After a goalless first half, Czechia’s Ladislav Krejci scored with a header. South Korea equalized with Hwang In-beom’s skillful goal, followed by Oh Hyeon-gyu’s decisive strike, witnessed by a sparse crowd at Guadalajara Stadium.
Hong Myung-bo, Korea’s coach, praised the team’s perseverance and win, emphasizing confidence and determination after falling behind.
World Cup Preview
The U.S. team, known as the ‘Golden Generation,’ aims to exploit home-field advantage at Los Angeles Stadium. Ranked 17th by FIFA, they have consistently reached World Cup knockouts but seek to surpass the quarterfinals. Facing Paraguay, ranked 47th, they return to the World Cup after 16 years.
All focus will be on Christian Pulisic, seen as a leading U.S. player. Pulisic, at 27, refuses to let performance pressure affect his gameplay, committing to enjoying the experience. This sentiment was shared during an NBC News interview.
In Toronto, Canada strives for its maiden World Cup victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Canada ranks 30th, rising from below 100 in 2017. Jonathan David, their leading scorer, plays for Juventus. Bosnia-Herzegovina previously overcame Italy to qualify.
Player Highlight: Kylian Mbappé
Our final player to watch is France’s Kylian Mbappé. At 19, he helped secure France’s second World Cup win in 2018. Now 27, Mbappé hopes to win a third title. Soccer runs in his family, and he began his professional journey with AS Monaco at 14, becoming renowned at Paris-St. Germain. His performance in the 2018 World Cup final marked him as exceptional, matching a record at the 2022 final despite France losing.
Mbappé seeks to transform prior setbacks into motivation for 2026, aiming for another final and a third World Cup win. He enters with recent recovery from a hamstring injury, following a successful season scoring 24 goals with Real Madrid.
US National Team Insights
Mauricio Pochettino heads the U.S. team with the aim to capitalize on its World Cup at home, as all players are ready to compete. While the team recently beat Paraguay 2-1 in a friendly, this tournament match offers a fresh challenge.
Subscribe to Men in Blazers’ newsletter for comprehensive coverage of every game and highlight. Attend their live events in host cities, with today’s show featuring Rob Mac, Larry Nance Jr., and Kyle Beckerman in Los Angeles.
Today’s Matches
- 3 p.m. – Canada vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina on Peacock
- 9 p.m. – United States vs. Paraguay on Peacock
Stay tuned for updates as the World Cup continues.