USA vs Paraguay LIVE: Watch World Cup free from anywhere, build-up, updates

Balogun makes it a real 2-0

No sooner had I typed up about the offside goal than Balogun smashes one into the goal to make it a real 2-0!

It felt like a matter of time and it feels like Paraguay will be lucky to end the first half with just two goal down.

A beautiful bit of teamwork from USA…but it’s offside

USA looked fantastic there with some incredible footwork between players to boot it into that onion bag…but it was offside.

I’m sure the meme of Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds celebrating the offside goal Wrexham scored is doing the rounds…

Drinks break and a reset for Paraguay

You sense there will be some harsh words for Paraguay and a rousing pep talk for USA.

A big mistake has separated the two teams but USA has been dominant for sure. It only takes a moment of weakness to get an equaliser though…

Despair and joy simultaneously at the 1-0 Paraguay own goal

The ball just rolls in for USA!

Well, a goal is a goal but Paraguay just watched – and aided – the ball roll into their own net.

Officially an own goal from Paraguay’s Bobadilla, after a confident charge from America into the box which got tangled in the Paraguayan players’ legs.

Paraguay on the attack early…as are America

Within the first minute Paraguay have the ball in America’s box…and in the second minute America have the ball in Paraguay’s box.

This could be a game of strong attacking as both side are eager to land an early goal.

Kick off!

America’s World Cup starts now!

Following fellow hosts Canada and Mexico who drew and won their games respectively, they’ll be hoping for a positive start to their tournament.

Beckham?

A brief shot in the crowd of David Beckham who seems to be omnipresent at every major international tournament.

Presumably cheering on USA considering he played for LA Galaxy for a stint but maybe just there for the pay check a la Qatar.

Get ready for kick off!

We’re moments away in Los Angeles to the USA v Paraguay game kicking off.

Find out how to watch it where you are below, but stay tuned as I stay with you through the wee hours in Europe or normal time in America.

England has Kane, Argentina has Messi…America has Pulisic

Christian Pulisic. Not a name you’d necessarily be familiar with outside of America, or even in America outside football circles but he’s been plastered on all World Cup paraphernalia stateside.

A lot of teams seem to have a talisman. England has Kane, Argentina has Messi, and America has Pulisic. Not on equal footing at all but if the States want to get any further then the Pennsylvania player will have to give it his all.

Soccer, only marginally more popular than Ice Hockey in the States

Again, I cannot emphasise how little ‘soccer’ is watched in the States. American football, baseball and basketball are easily the three most popular sports in the States with soccer trailing and only a tad more popular than ice hockey in terms of viewership.

To put that in to perspective, what the Americans are doing with the World Cup now would be the equivalent of Brits deciding to get stuck into basketball. For the record, we did and the British Basketball League existed from 1987 until a few years ago when it folded.

The atmosphere in Los Angeles

The action tonight comes from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California and the fans are bringing their enthusiasm in droves.

Football may not be America’s first sport, or even their first ‘football’, but you sense for this few months that they, and Canada and Mexico, will embrace it as if it’s been a beloved pastime.

The host nations’ (realistic) chances

To put it in to perspective, the furthest the USA have got in World Cups is over two decades ago in 2002. Going out in the quarterfinals to Germany 1-0 seems a remarkable achievement for USA ‘soccer’ (yuck) men’s squad, which has always had a stronger women’s side, but they’ve not done a whole lot since then.

Likewise fellow host Mexico have only achieved quarterfinal status in 1970 and 1986. Canada have never left the group stages, and by equalising 1-1 against Bosnia and Herzegovina yesterday have achieved their greatest result in tournament history: a draw!

One hour until kick off!

We had Future, and then a performance of ‘Goals’ from LISA, Anitta, and Rema – a song about scoring goals and the importance of having goals, a clever double play – and now we have a 10 minute interval.

The mostly sold out crowd seem content, for now, but wait presumably for some more artists performing including Katy Perry and then some more awkward intervals between performances.

The Future…does not look bright

Autotune, lacklustre performance and miming lyrics…you can tell how America views ‘soccer’.

Future starts the proceedings off with a fairly meh performance, let’s see if it can be topped…it almost certainly can.

Strap in for the Opening Ceremony

Drums aplenty as the United States finish the three – dare I say it exhaustive – Opening Ceremonies with this extravaganza.

They’ve already mentioned ‘freedom’ in the first minute, so you can cross that off your bingo card.

Strap in, wherever you are in the world!

Is it after midnight in Europe? Is it the afternoon in the States? What time is it with you?

No matter! Welcome to our live blog for the game of our final hosts of the tournament: USA as they play Paraguay.

Welcome to USA vs Paraguay!

Can the USA get off to the perfect start against Paraguay? Find out right here as we bring live updates of their opening game of the World Cup.