The United States answered every question about their World Cup readiness with a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay on Saturday, delivering a performance that served as both a statement and a warning to the rest of the tournament's field.

Three goals in a breathless opening half — played out before a sold-out crowd draped in stars and stripes, with Hollywood star Tom Cruise among those watching on — set the tone. Folarin Balogun struck twice, Christian Pulisic provided an assist, and Gio Reyna added a fourth in stoppage time to cap a dominant display in Group D.

It was the USA's first World Cup victory by three or more goals since 1930, a statistic that underlines just how significant the afternoon was for American football.

A nation waking up to its tournament

Before kick-off in Los Angeles, ambivalence about the tournament had been hard to miss — the city had offered few signs that one of sport's greatest spectacles was about to begin. That changed sharply on match day, as USA shirts flooded the metro, bars, and coffee shops in the hours leading up to kick-off.

Manager Mauricio Pochettino, appointed 20 months ago to transform a programme that had historically struggled to advance beyond the round of 16, will know that the result was as important for public belief as it was for points on the board.