Roaring crowds in stars and stripes show up for the US team, and soccer's moment in their country (opens original article in a new tab)

Roaring crowds of American fans attended the U.S. soccer team's World Cup opener, highlighting growing interest in the sport across generations and communities.

• U.S. team's World Cup home opener against Paraguay drew large crowds in Los Angeles
• Soccer's popularity in the U.S. has grown since 1994, with increasing participation among young athletes and immigrants
• Fans expressed strong patriotic support, wearing American-themed costumes and jerseys to show their passion for soccer