ESPN football writer Mark Ogden is a guest in the latest episode of Football Daily.

He was impressed by the scenes inside the Los Angeles Stadium, but posed a question about whether the World Cup spirit could be lost with the tournament taking place in three countries and over such a large geographical area...

The latest episode of the Football Daily podcast is now available to listen to via BBC Sounds.

Hosts Rick Edwards and Lloyd Griffith report back after soaking up the vibes at a packed Los Angeles Stadium.

Click here to listen now.

Donald Trump may not have been in attendance at the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, but plenty of other famous faces could be seen in the crowd.

David Beckham has played a huge part in trying to build the sport of football in the USA.

After playing for LA Galaxy, Beckham became a co-owner of Inter Miami. The former England captain was joined by his wife, Victoria, and Tom Cruise for the USA's opening game last night.

Image source, Getty Images

North of the border, Wrexham co-owner and Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds was among the very recognisable faces watching Canada in Toronto.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Donald Trump reckons USA "can go all the way".

The American president was notable by his absence at the Los Angeles Stadium, but called USA manager Mauricio Pochettino in the run up to their World Cup opener.

"Well, I just got to say you’re a fantastic guy, a fantastic coach, and you’re all about your record and your success, and I know how great the players are," Trump said to the Argentine head coach.

"I think you’ve got a really good chance of going all the way. I just want to wish you a lot of luck.”

Image source, Getty Images

We asked you earlier which host nation will go furthest in this World Cup.

Mexico still lead the way in that poll and for good reason. They have lost just twice in 85 matches at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.

But the home support in Los Angeles roared USA to an inspired performance against Paraguay.

Could Mauricio Pochettino's team actually go far in this tournament?

The Argentine head coach put that question to home media earlier this year: "Why not us? We need to really believe that we can be there. We need to dream."

Image source, Getty Images

USA manager Mauricio Pochettino said he was "so happy and proud" after watching his side storm past Paraguay in their World Cup opener in Los Angeles: "So, so proud. Players and staff deserved big credit for this performance.

"The most important is the performance and the feeling. We know it is only the start and it is nothing. It is only one game. Now we need to be intelligent to keep [going] in that direction.

"But we are so happy because the first game is always so difficult, hosting the World Cup, the expectation but we managed the expectation and pressure. The first 45 minutes were amazing, difficult to find a team to play like this. So happy and so proud."

On key player Christian Pulisic, who was substituted at half time: "He received a kick in his calf and he felt tight at the end of the first half. We didn't want to take any risks. It was difficult for him to walk but hope that it is not a big issue and he can be ready for the next one."

On support from the 70,000 spectators inside the Los Angeles Stadium: "Amazing. That is what we were waiting for. When you talk about America, that passion, that feeling. Now they realise that soccer in America is massive, it's big."

We don't know whether Mauricio Pochettino summoned his inner Maximus Decimus Meridius, but whatever he said to his USA players worked...

It's safe to say that World Cup fever has hit San Jose, home to MLS side San Jose Earthquakes and the NHL's San Jose Sharks.

The city is just a stone's throw from the San Francisco Bay Area stadium in Santa Clara which ordinarily hosts the San Francisco 49ers NFL games.

At 20:00 BST on Saturday, Switzerland face Qatar in the first of six games to be played at the San Francisco Bay Area.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Mauricio Pochettino will be the first to point out that nothing has been won yet, but the Argentine manager will know that a start like this was absolutely pivotal for building both belief and momentum.

Prior to their opener it felt like Americans were largely indifferent about their country hosting a World Cup - in Los Angeles, the city where the USA played their opener, it was easy to be unaware that a major tournament was about to take place.

But that all changed on Friday as USA shirts dominated on the metro and in bars and coffee shops in the hours before kick-off.

A failure to win this and that passion and enthusiasm could have quickly been sapped, but instead it will likely be enhanced before their remaining two group games against Turkey and Australia.

Their dominance in the first half was highlighted by the fact they had 71% possession.

"They look a really dangerous team, they look fit, they look sharp, they look hungry," ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy said on BBC Match of the Day following the USA's excellent first-half performance.

"When you are playing well the crowd get behind you. This is an intimidating stadium when the majority of the crowd are for you, that's for sure."

New York City is alive with excitement for the New York Knicks' winning run in the NBA play-offs after the team reached their first Finals since 1999.

The city erupted in celebration on Wednesday night after the Knicks came from 29 points down to beat the San Antonio Spurs and take a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series - with the Knicks in line to claim their first Championship since 1973 if they beat the Spurs in Game 5 on Wednesday.

In among the basketball bliss, sports fans in the city found time to mark the opening game of Team USA's World Cup campaign on Friday.

Here are the scenes from watch parties that took place in the Big Apple as Mauricio Pochettino's side beat Paraguay 4-1.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Gett

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

American media is finally awash with news from the World Cup after the United States' men's national team (USMNT) made a stunning start to their campaign with a 4-1 win over Paraguay in Los Angeles.

Here's a round-up of the main headlines online:

• ESPN, external reports that the US "makes an opening statement on home soil"
• USA Today, external, meanwhile, describes the USMNT's World Cup opener as "an inspired performance"
• The New York Times, external, via the Athletic, says that USA "cruised to victory"
• While Fox, external reports that the excitement at Los Angeles Stadium was "impossible to miss"
• North of the border, Canada's Globe and Mail, external describes their national team's 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina in Toronto as "the greatest draw in national history"
• In other news, the Boston Globe, external has felt the need to explain to its readers why "Scottish soccer fans in Boston are singing the ‘Cheers’ theme"

NB: Scotland begin their World Cup campaign against Haiti in Boston at 02:00 BST (Sunday, 14 June)

Image source, Getty Images

The USA's game at Los Angeles stadium also marked an end to this World Cup's triple-header of opening ceremonies.

Katy Perry, Tyla and Future were among the stars to perform.

Michael Buble - who knew he worked outside of the Christmas period? - and Alanis Morissette took centre stage for Canada.

And it was Shakira, back at a World Cup for a fourth time, who kicked things off in Mexico.

But which nation did it better?

Image source, Getty Images

It's easy to be dismissive of the USA's result against a nation in Paraguay that aren't expected to pull up too many trees at the World Cup.

But Paraguay caused problems - and earned big results - during qualifying for the tournament.

Paraguay recorded home wins against Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay to finish sixth in a very tight CONMEBOL qualification process.

They were level on points with Brazil and Uruguay and just a point shy of second-placed Ecuador.

Image source, Getty Images

If there were any doubts that the USA were ready to live up to the pressure of being one of the hosts of the 2026 World Cup, they were dispelled in 45 brilliant minutes against Paraguay on Saturday.

Following a glitzy build-up which featured a performance from Katy Perry, watched on by Hollywood A-listers like Tom Cruise in the stands and with thousands of fans decked out in the stars and stripes, they would have been forgiven for wilting under the pressure.

Instead they stepped up as three goals in a whirlwind first half, before a sublime fourth by Gio Reyna in stoppage time, secured a 4-1 win to ensure a perfect start in Group D.

But even before this display there were some who had recognised the potential of a USA side who have developed significantly under ex-Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino over the past 20 months.

Former USA goalkeeper Tony Meola is one pundit who has suggested they are now on their way to being able to rub shoulders with football's elite.

"Now we are so much more established," said Meola, who was part of the US squad at the 1990, 1994 and 2002 World Cups.

"We have players playing all round the world, we have an incredible league and have facilities the world is using right now. Those were a pipe dream a few years ago, now we are a football nation."

Did anyone use BBC Sport's brand-new Fifa World Cup 3D Experience for last night's games?

If you missed our plug for it yesterday, then it allows you to see a World Cup match from every angle,have a full-pitch tactical view, and even see the match through the eyes of a player.

This is a UK-first that is only available on BBC Sport.

The interactive game experience gives viewers more choice to explore the match both in real-time, highlights and full-match replays.

To go back and watch the highlights, or just to get you prepared for tonight's games - head to bbc.co.uk/3dWorldCup to get started.

BBC 5 Live Breakfast

Neil McGuiness, LAFC's Scottish technical director, told 5 Live Breakfast he had not seen American fans come out in such numbers to support the national team before, following their 4-1 victory over Paraguay in front of more than 70,000 supporters in Los Angeles:

"Confidence wise, not only have they gone out and scored four goals, the nation has definitely got a boost from that.

"The scenes outside [the stadium in] LA, I don't know how much you saw outside, but it was incredible. The streets are packed. I've not seen US fans come out in those numbers before.

"I think every player tonight has gone to bed super happy and ready for the next one."

Image source, Reuters