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

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.

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.

Stay here for everything you need to know and more...

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.

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.

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.

God bless America's enthusiastic fans though. There's not many countries' fans who you could just put in front of a camera and get such an enthusiastic response from. Chants of U-S-A, dancing to the beat of their own drum and booing the Paraguay fans when they come on the big screen...you've got to love it.

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!

The stakes are very low for all three host nations but with the home crowd behind you, you really never know what will happen...

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.

Hopefully the crowd will give some momentum to the team, and Paraguay too, and give us an entertaining match at the very least.

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.

Again, just merely putting it into perspective but let's focus on the players and the pitch now.

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.

So, with all the pressure, will the 27-year-old deliver?

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.

Don't miss a second of the action here...

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.

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.

The US are in white kicking off, Paraguay are in dark blue.

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.

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.

Unlucky but America is looking solid.

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

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...

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...

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 reminder of that second goal

They've had a few good opportunities since but a reminder at that lovely goal courtesy of USA's Balogun at the 31st minute.

A magnificent third goal before halftime!

Balogun absolutely belts in a third USA goal - and his second of the match - into the top right corner after weaving through two defenders.

What a way to end the first half as he brings it to 3-0 for the host nation at the literal last minute of stoppage time.

Folarin Balogun: Golden Boot?

Folarin Balogun. A star is born.

Suddenly the world is thinking that maybe they should take America seriously on the pitch thanks to this man. Sure, Paraguay are hardly a threat and sure, Pochettino as manager has certainly injected some new life into a previously unserious team but Balogun has made a name for himself as well as USA.

With his second goal easily in consideration for best of the tournament - albeit we're in day two - could we be seeing some more goals this game and tournament from Balogun? Maybe a Golden Boot? We'll see...

The second half gets underway

Paraguay kicks off as we get into the second half.

One imagines a tense pep talk in the Paraguay locker room and a victorious one with a few U-S-A chants in the American side.

VAR - Mistaken Identity?

VAR is loathed by most of the footballing community, and it's easy to see why.

USA Captain Tim Ream was falsely accused of fouling Almiron...until VAR interrupted proceedings with the claim of 'Mistaken Identity'. Our old friend the video assistant referee stopped the match to inform the ref that Almiron had given the performance of a lifetime and the yellow is reversed and given to the Paraguayan.

For a second it looked like the ref was giving Almiron a red card...but he just picked up the wrong card.

USA lurking for a fourth goal

It doesn't feel a question of if but when will America score their fourth goal.

Some sloppy misses but plenty of opportunities that will work out in the long run.

No hat-trick for Balogun

Two delicious goals for USA from Balogun but he's subbed in the second half so that'll be no more for him.

While denied a hat-trick it makes sense to save his energy for the rest of the group stage.

Paraguay score!

It's 3-1 as Paraguay finally find some finishing power. In the 73rd minute Mauricio cooly puts one in the net.

It won't be enough to see them win but it at least makes the game a bit more interesting.

Just a Weah bit too much

USA's Weah smashes it towards the goal but it just picks up a bit too much height.

Paraguay look desperate as they try and clear it, picking up a yellow card or two in the process.

Maybe that's it for goals

I take it back, it could well be a no-goals-this-half situation based on lack of opportunities.

70,000+ watching USA's opening game

While some of the World Cup games look to be sparsely attended, the USA opener was always going to perform well.

And thank god the USA team met the moment with a formidable game.

7 extra minutes

With seven minutes added to the clock, will we see team USA get their first ever 4-0 in World Cup history?

USA look for a final goal in the last two minutes

They're looking everywhere for a final goal, will they find it?

USA score their fourth historic goal!

Literally in the last minute Reyna scores the final goal of the USA and their highest scoring World Cup game ever.

He smashes it in after a lapse in the Paraguay defence as the crowd roars him on. Is Pochettino the man who's made the difference? Is it that home crowd energy? Either way they'll be hoping to keep it up for the rest of the tournament.

That's time!

The whistle blows and USA are triumphant!

USA - underdogs?

Let's not get ahead of ourselves but are USA a potential underdog for the World Cup?

With a word-class manager and the home crowd on their side, they may get to their best of a quarterfinal or even further...but it was Paraguay and it was a home crowd in LA so let's all calm down.

The world will be watching though...

That's all folks!

It's 4am here and time for bed, but in USA emotions will be running high as they successfully launch themselves onto the World Cup stage.

Keep tuned here for more updates on the biggest football tournament in the world. I've been Dan and thanks for following!