USMNT wins 4-1 as ticket prices rise, fan zones open

The FIFA World Cup has kicked off across North America, with the United States, Canada, and Mexico hosting the expanded 48-team tournament. The U.S. men's national team opened its campaign with a decisive 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Friday, June 12, at Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood, generating significant momentum for the host nation.

The win, which featured two goals from Folarin Balogun and a stoppage-time strike from Giovanni Reyna, was celebrated by a large hometown crowd, though some empty seats were visible. The result has intensified expectations for the American squad to advance from Group D. The team's next match is against Australia in Seattle, followed by a return to Los Angeles to face Türkiye on June 25.

For many fans, however, attending matches in person remains prohibitively expensive. Secondary market listings show the cheapest available ticket for the U.S.-Australia game priced above $1,700, with VIP packages reaching nearly $47,000. Tickets for the Türkiye match in Los Angeles also start in the four-figure range.

In response, host cities across California are offering a wide array of free and low-cost public viewing experiences to capture the tournament...