The FIFA World Cup officially got underway this week, and the U.S. men’s national team wasted no time making an impression. In front of a packed crowd at SoFi Stadium, the Americans delivered a dominant 4–1 victory over Paraguay in their tournament opener.
Before kickoff, country music duo Dan + Shay set the stage with a stirring performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” helping create a memorable atmosphere for one of the biggest sporting events ever hosted on American soil.
Among those in attendance was Country Living managing editor Amy Mitchell, who had an extra reason to celebrate. Her nephew, defender Chris Richards, played a historic role in the victory, completing all 83 of his passes during the match. The flawless performance set a FIFA World Cup record for the most passes completed with 100% accuracy since detailed tracking began in 1966.
With the World Cup returning to the United States for the first time in more than three decades, excitement inside the stadium was impossible to miss. More than 70,000 fans filled SoFi Stadium, creating an electric environment as the tournament officially began.
Dan + Shay later shared footage of their national anthem performance on Instagram, where fans quickly flooded the comments section with praise. Many applauded the duo for delivering a powerful and emotional rendition that perfectly captured the significance of the moment.
As the United States celebrated both a convincing victory and a record-setting performance from Richards, Dan + Shay’s anthem helped provide a memorable opening chapter to what promises to be a historic World Cup.