A number of readers have made the point that USA need to play better opposition before anyone can decide on their chances of going far in this tournament.

That is obviously true.

But that is also to discount the Paraguay side, which claimed the scalps of world champions Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay in qualifying for this tournament...

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Good morning, folks.

Whether you're just stirring after staying up for the football last night and want to relive it all, or missed the lot and are looking forward to catching up over a coffee - we've got you covered.

Here's what we've been talking about so far this morning:

• Former Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun became the second US player in history to score two or more goals in a World Cup game as USA beat Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles last night.
• Southampton's Cyle Larin came off the bench to salvage a 1-1 draw for Canada after Jovo Lukic gave Bosnia-Herzegovina a first-half lead.
• "Now we are a football nation," says former USA goalkeeper Tony Meola.
• Canadian media called their team's result "the greatest draw in national history".
• Lee from Suffolk split opinions with his contribution to Sean Dyche's favourite game of 'Lookie-Likies'.
• President Donald Trump has said that USA have "a really good chance of going all the way"
• Trump didn't make it to the game - but David Beckham and Ryan Reynolds were in the stands at the SoFi Stadium as the USA claimed their opening win.

Fifa announced that a sold-out crowd of over 70,000 people watched the USA's 4-1 win over Paraguay at the Sofi Stadium in Los Angeles.

A few miles away, plenty turned out to the LA Memorial Coliseum to enjoy the match at a Fifa fan festival.

The Coliseum was built in 1921 as a memorial to local veterans who lost their lives in World War I.

In 2028, it will become the first stadium in the world to have hosted three Summer Olympic games, having hosted before in 1932 and 1984.

It also hosted the first ever Super Bowl in 1967 - won by Green Bay Packers - and the seventh edition won by Miami Dolphins in 1973.

On Friday, it bore witness to history again as fans celebrated Team USA's huge win with beer sprays and crowd-surfing.

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There may not be one obvious focal point, but with so many fans priced out of actually attending matches, we have already seen that "watch parties" are becoming a thing in this World Cup.

In Los Angeles, the go-to venue was the Coliseum...

Mark Ogden
Senior writer for ESPN on the Football Daily podcast

One thing that struck me, I have done World Cups before, certainly in Russia there was a real focal point - it was Moscow and it was Red Square, that's where everyone congregated. I don't know where the epicentre is. I don't know where people are going to gravitate to. There's not an obvious kind of focal point.

ESPN football writer Mark Ogden is a guest in the latest episode of Football Daily.

He was impressed by the scenes inside the Los Angeles Stadium, but posed a question about whether the World Cup spirit could be lost with the tournament taking place in three countries and over such a large geographical area...

The latest episode of the Football Daily podcast is now available to listen to via BBC Sounds.

Hosts Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith report back after soaking up the vibes at a packed Los Angeles Stadium.

Click here to listen now.

Donald Trump may not have been in attendance at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, but plenty of other famous faces could be seen in the crowd.

David Beckham has played a huge part in trying to build the sport of football in the USA.

After playing for LA Galaxy, Beckham became a co-owner of Inter Miami. The former England captain was joined by his wife, Victoria, and Tom Cruise for the USA's opening game last night.

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North of the border, Wrexham co-owner and Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds was among the very recognisable faces watching Canada in Toronto.

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Donald Trump reckons USA "can go all the way".

The American president was notable by his absence at the Los Angeles Stadium, but called USA manager Mauricio Pochettino in the run up to their World Cup opener.

"Well, I just got to say you’re a fantastic guy, a fantastic coach, and you’re all about your record and your success, and I know how great the players are," Trump said to the Argentine head coach.

"I think you’ve got a really good chance of going all the way. I just want to wish you a lot of luck.”

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We asked you earlier which host nation will go furthest in this World Cup.

Mexico still lead the way in that poll and for good reason. They have lost just twice in 85 matches at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

But the home support in Los Angeles roared USA to an inspired performance against Paraguay.

Could Mauricio Pochettino's team actually go far in this tournament?

The Argentine head coach put that question to home media earlier this year: "Why not us? We need to really believe that we can be there. We need to dream."

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USA manager Mauricio Pochettino said he was "so happy and proud" after watching his side storm past Paraguay in their World Cup opener in Los Angeles: "So, so proud. Players and staff deserved big credit for this performance.

"The most important is the performance and the feeling. We know it is only the start and it is nothing. It is only one game. Now we need to be intelligent to keep [going] in that direction.

"But we are so happy because the first game is always so difficult, hosting the World Cup, the expectation but we managed the expectation and pressure. The first 45 minutes were amazing, difficult to find a team to play like this. So happy and so proud."

On key player Christian Pulisic, who was substituted at half time: "He received a kick in his calf and he felt tight at the end of the first half. We didn't want to take any risks. It was difficult for him to walk but hope that it is not a big issue and he can be ready for the next one."

On support from the 70,000 spectators inside the Los Angeles Stadium: "Amazing. That is what we were waiting for. When you talk about America, that passion, that feeling. Now they realise that soccer in America is massive, it's big."

We don't know whether Mauricio Pochettino summoned his inner Maximus Decimus Meridius, but whatever he said to his USA players worked...

It's safe to say that World Cup fever has hit San Jose, home to MLS side San Jose Earthquakes and the NHL's San Jose Sharks.

The city is just a stone's throw from the San Francisco Bay Area stadium in Santa Clara which ordinarily hosts the San Francisco 49ers NFL games.

At 20:00 BST on Saturday, Switzerland face Qatar in the first of six games to be played at the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Mauricio Pochettino will be the first to point out that nothing has been won yet, but the Argentine manager will know that a start like this was absolutely pivotal for building both belief and momentum.

Prior to their opener it felt like Americans were largely indifferent about their country hosting a World Cup - in Los Angeles, the city where the USA played their opener, it was easy to be unaware that a major tournament was about to take place.

But that all changed on Friday as USA shirts dominated on the metro and in bars and coffee shops in the hours before kick-off.

A failure to win this and that passion and enthusiasm could have quickly been sapped, but instead it will likely be enhanced before their remaining two group games against Turkey and Australia.

Their dominance in the first half was highlighted by the fact they had 71% possession.

"They look a really dangerous team, they look fit, they look sharp, they look hungry," ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy said on BBC Match of the Day following the USA's excellent first-half performance.

"When you are playing well the crowd get behind you. This is an intimidating stadium when the majority of the crowd are for you, that's for sure."

New York City is alive with excitement for the New York Knicks' winning run in the NBA play-offs after the team reached their first Finals since 1999.

The city erupted in celebration on Wednesday night after the Knicks came from 29 points down to beat the San Antonio Spurs and take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series - with the Knicks in line to claim their first Championship since 1973 if they beat the Spurs in Game 5 on Wednesday.

In among the basketball bliss, sports fans in the city found time to mark the opening game of Team USA's World Cup campaign on Friday.

Here are the scenes from watch parties that took place in the Big Apple as Mauricio Pochettino's side beat Paraguay 4-1.

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Image source, Gett

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American media is finally awash with news from the World Cup after the United States' men's national team (USMNT) made a stunning start to their campaign with a 4-1 win over Paraguay in Los Angeles.

Here's a round-up of the main headlines online:

• ESPN, external reports that the US "makes an opening statement on home soil"
• USA Today, external, meanwhile, describes the USMNT's World Cup opener as "an inspired performance"
• The New York Times, external, via the Athletic, says that USA "cruised to victory"
• While Fox, external reports that the excitement at Los Angeles Stadium was "impossible to miss"
• North of the border, Canada's Globe and Mail, external describes their national team's 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto as "the greatest draw in national history"
• In other news, the Boston Globe, external has felt the need to explain to its readers why "Scottish soccer fans in Boston are singing the ‘Cheers’ theme"

NB: Scotland begin their World Cup campaign against Haiti in Boston at 02:00 BST (Sunday, 14 June)

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