Star-studded opener: USA rolls past Paraguay 4-1 as Tom Cruise, Katy Perry and David Beckham light up Los Angeles

A Hollywood-style opening ceremony

Nearly 20 minutes of fireworks, dancers and music around a giant inflatable World Cup trophy turned the SoFi Stadium pitch into a stage worthy of the Super Bowl. Jason Sudeikis, famous for his role as Ted Lasso, opened the ceremony with a short speech before the musical acts took over. Future, Tyla, Anitta and Lisa of Blackpink each performed, energising the sold-out crowd.

Katy Perry then took centre stage, singing alongside a 10-year-old Norwegian boy named Luka and drawing a huge ovation. After the music faded, Tom Cruise sang the US national anthem with visible emotion while standing next to David Beckham, who had received his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame just hours earlier.

The star guest list

The stands read like a Hollywood premiere. Cruise arrived in a bright suit alongside Beckham, and the pair signed autographs before kick-off. Other A-list attendees included Paris Hilton, Jamie Foxx, Owen Wilson, Brad Pitt, Sofia Vergara, Halle Berry, Rob Lowe, George Lucas with his wife Melody Hobson, Vince Vaughn, Teyana Taylor, Jaafar Jackson and Microsoft founder Bill Gates. NBA legends Klay Thompson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar also posed together.

Notably absent was President Donald Trump, as one Greek outlet emphasised. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, however, was present and watched the match from the stands seated next to Katy Perry.

USA starts with authority

The hosts needed no celebrity sparkle on the pitch, dispatching Paraguay 4-1 in their debut. The lopsided scoreline reflected a confident performance by the American side, though match details were sparse in the event-focused coverage. The win gave the United States an ideal start to their home tournament and a strong signal to the rest of Group B.

Third ceremony across the hosts

The 2026 World Cup is unique in holding three separate opening ceremonies, one in each co-host nation. After events in Mexico and Canada, the Los Angeles spectacle completed the trilogy. The star power in Inglewood underlined the US strategy of blending football with entertainment to grow the sport in the American market.