The United States is set to begin its World Cup campaign on Friday night against Paraguay, marking the country's first time hosting the tournament in more than three decades.

Thousands of enthusiastic fans gathered early at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, to support the U.S. men's national team, which enters the competition with high expectations. Led by captain Christian Pulisic and a seasoned group of players, the Americans are currently ranked 17th in the world and hope to advance beyond the knockout stage for only the second time in World Cup history.

The match also marks the World Cup debut of head coach Mauricio Pochettino with the U.S. team. The game is being played at SoFi Stadium, the state-of-the-art venue that serves as home to the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers. Although the stadium typically uses artificial turf, natural grass was installed specifically for the World Cup.

Supporters arrived hours before kickoff, creating a festive atmosphere around the stadium. Many fans wore U.S. team apparel, while others dressed in patriotic costumes, including outfits inspired by the Statue of Liberty and America's Founding Fathers.

The last men's World Cup hosted by the United States took place in 1994, when the host nation won only one match before being eliminated. Since then, soccer's popularity has grown significantly across the country, fueled by increased youth participation and the development of Major League Soccer, which launched in 1996.

The expanded World Cup began on Thursday with co-host Mexico defeating South Africa 2-0. Earlier Friday, co-host Canada earned a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Toronto.

The United States will play two of its three group-stage matches in Inglewood, with its remaining group game scheduled for next week in Seattle.