US fans in Ho Chi Minh City celebrate 4-1 World Cup win over Paraguay

More than 50 U.S. diplomats, along with their families and friends, packed a restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City's Thao Dien neighborhood on June 13 to watch the U.S. men's national team open their home World Cup with a commanding 4-1 win over Paraguay.

Dressed in U.S. colors and waving American flags, the crowd erupted as the goals went in, joining the opening-day atmosphere of a tournament their country is co-hosting. The watch party brought together the consulate staff and the wider American community in the city for a shared moment.

Among them was Acting Consul General Anne Benjaminson, who could barely contain her excitement. "Oh my god, I'm so excited! We just won our opening game 4 to 1. Huge victory for the U.S. And it was so much fun to be here with a huge number of other fans of the U.S. team, the consulate team, and the American community to all have the experience of watching the U.S. win its home opener together," she said.

Acting Consul General Anne Benjaminson of the United States in Ho Chi Minh City (R) and other supporters watch the 2026 World Cup Group D match between co-hosts U.S. and Paraguay on June 13, 2026. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran

The fans tuned in live as the match played out at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles, where the U.S. produced the most dominant World Cup performance in the program's history. An own goal inside the opening minutes put the Americans ahead, Folarin Balogun struck twice, and Giovanni Reyna added a fourth late on, with Christian Pulisic influential throughout. Paraguay managed a single reply. The four goals were a record for the U.S. men, who had never scored more than three in a World Cup match.

Greg Naarden, a U.S. fan in the city, said the scoreline spoke for itself and that the team had played exceptionally well. He added that it was great to see such a large turnout, and that Americans are clearly big football fans too.

Ted Webne, another U.S. supporter, said the whole team had played well but that Pulisic stood out, and that he believed the forward had a hand in setting up a goal. He added that Balogun was also impressing.

The 2026 World Cup is being played across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the first edition to feature 48 teams. It is the second time the U.S. has hosted the tournament, after staging it in 1994.

"We're cooperating with Canada and Mexico to host it all across North America. But, really, the U.S. government is doing everything it can to make this a fun, safe, well-organized event for fans from all around the world," Benjaminson said.

After the opening win, the U.S. face Australia on June 19 in Seattle before closing out Group D against Turkey on June 25 in Los Angeles.