What American fans paid for the World Cup opener in Los Angeles
Fans of the U.S. vs. Paraguay game in Los Angeles, Calif., told USA TODAY Sports how much they paid to watch the World Cup opener, ranging from $60 to $3,000.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — U.S. star Christian Pulisic was kicked in the left calf in the USMNT’s World Cup opener against Paraguay and was ejected at halftime of the 4-1 win.
“There was a bit of a shock in the first half, so I really hope nothing happened,” Pulisic told reporters in a post-match interview. “I’m a little cautious today, but I think I’ll be fine.
“It was just on the sole of my foot, around my calf, but I’ve had something similar before, so I’m trying to stay positive. I don’t think it’s anything.”
In the opening match of the 2026 World Cup against Paraguay, the USMNT had a great first half performance, but Pulisic came on as a substitute to start the second half and was replaced by Sebastian Berhalter.
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Pulisic will have a week to recover before the USMNT’s next game against Australia on June 19th.
Initially, there was no explanation as to why Pulisic was sent off the pitch, and there were no signs of injury. According to the FOX broadcast, he signaled to his family that he was OK and sat on the bench during the second half.
“I hope it won’t be a big problem,” USMNT coach Mauricio Pichettino said at the post-match press conference, adding that the decision was made at the last minute and that they are urgently considering substitutions.
Pulisic’s departure came after he played well in the first 45 minutes for the Stars and Stripes. He always beat defenders with his first touch and played a key role in getting his team on the scoreboard with a seventh-minute own goal. He then made a sensational pass to Folarin Balogun in the 31st minute to give him a 2-0 lead, earning him the 21st assist of his international career.
2026 USA World Cup Schedule
The U.S. national team started the World Cup in Group D and is ranked 16th in the FIFA world rankings.
- June 12: USA vs. Paraguay, 9 p.m. ET, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Calif., broadcast on FOX.
- June 19: USA vs. Australia, 3pm ET, Lumen Field, Seattle, broadcast on FOX
- June 25: USA vs. Turkier, 10 p.m. ET, SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Calif., broadcast on FOX.
