The World Cup arrived in the United States on Friday with a dazzling display of celebrity and glamour, as Los Angeles pulled out all the stops for the opening game between Team USA and Paraguay. The stands at SoFi Stadium were filled with famous faces from the world's entertainment capital, including movie legends Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, and 'Star Wars' director George Lucas, joined by socialite Paris Hilton and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.
Hollywood Stars and International Icons
Other Hollywood names included Oscar winner Halle Berry, actor and director Owen Wilson, and 'West Wing' alum Rob Lowe. Singer and former astronaut Katy Perry, who performed in the opening ceremony, watched the action from the seats while cuddling up to former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau. The pair have recently gone 'Insta-official' with a relationship that has sparked envy among many women worldwide.
British football giant David Beckham was also in the stands, sitting next to Cruise, just hours after being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The honor is the latest in a long line for the former England captain, who was knighted by Britain's King Charles last year to become Sir David Beckham.
Team USA's Dominant Victory
Basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was also cheering for the USA, who romped to a 4-1 victory over a hapless Paraguay, giving the host nation its highest-scoring World Cup result. Before the game began, a packed SoFi Stadium was greeted with a booming 'Welcome to the USA' in a glitzy ceremony that kicked off more than five weeks of football in the US, which is sharing the tournament with Mexico and Canada.
The stadium's giant jumbotron screen flashed a close-up of the city's famous Hollywood sign, before a marching band struck up and were joined by singers including Future, Tyla, Anitta, and K-pop star Lisa. Costumes and props were designed to evoke Los Angeles street art and the city's creative industries. Suspended from the roof of the space-age venue were enormous 'FIFA' letters in the gold favored by US President Donald Trump, who did not attend.
