The 2026 FIFA World Cup's third opening ceremony takes place Friday at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, with pop star Katy Perry performing. According to France 24, the United States faces Paraguay in Group D's opener. The match arrives amid significant headwinds: visa delays for international visitors, prohibitively expensive tickets, and competition from other American sports. For the USMNT, this home opener is a litmus test for soccer's place in American sports culture.

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