U.S. cruises past Paraguay 4-1 in World Cup opener

The U.S. men’s national soccer team triumphed over Paraguay with a 4-1 victory in their World Cup opener at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The match began with an own goal by Paraguayan midfielder Damián Bobadilla in the 7th minute, giving the U.S. an early lead. Star striker Folarin Balogun scored twice, once in the 31st minute and again in first-half stoppage time, to extend the lead to 3-0. Although Paraguay’s Mauricio scored in the 73rd minute, Gio Reyna sealed the win for the U.S. with a late goal in second-half stoppage time. This victory places the U.S. at the top of Group D, ahead of their next match against Australia. The game drew a massive crowd of 70,492 fans, showcasing the growing popularity of soccer in the U.S. since the country last hosted the World Cup in 1994. QUESTION: How might the increasing popularity of soccer in the U.S. influence the future of sports culture in the country?