Celebrities cheer as USA kicks off World Cup journey

Sofi Stadium buzzed with excitement as Hollywood stars and sports figures gathered for a big moment: the United States men’s soccer team making its debut in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Among the crowd was actor Tom Cruise and New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, both there to support a team many hope could go far in the tournament. The USMNT, as the squad is known, faced Paraguay in a match that could set the tone for the rest of their campaign.Group D isn’t going to be easy. After Paraguay, the Americans will play Australia on Wednesday, then Turkey on June 25. The goal is simple: advance past the group stage. It sounds straightforward, but soccer has a way of surprising fans every four years. The U. S. has made it to the knockout rounds in four of the last five World Cups, though they missed the 2018 edition entirely. Their most recent run ended in 2022 with a loss in the Round of 16. That Qatar exit still lingers in the minds of supporters. Out of the 26 players on the 2026 roster, 13 were part of that squad. One of them, Christian Pulisic, already has 33 goals for his country—good enough for fifth on the USMNT’s all-time scoring list. His leadership and scoring ability could be key if the team hopes to go deeper than ever before.