IRVINE, Calif. — Somehow, describing the United States’ opener at the 2026 World Cup a “dream start” almost undersells it. Legends of the program are effusive in their praise of what is already going down as an iconic night in the national team’s history.The U.S. thrashed Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium in front of a sold-out, raucous crowd of 70,492 fans, and the play on the field was nearly as flawless as Chris Richards’ passing, particularly the first 45 minutes. Off the field, the symbiotic relationship between the team and the fans has not felt that good in a long time. It’s a bond head coach Mauricio Pochettino has focused hard on forming and strengthening. It peaked on Friday.“Friday was one of the great nights of my life,” USMNT great and Fox Sports’ lead studio analyst Alexi Lalas told The Athletic. “People ask me about 1994, and certainly that Colombia game was a great day in my life, but the other night was something special. The celebration of who we are today and how far we’ve come.”But there have been times when Lalas has had his doubts about the team’s progress and has voiced them without a backward step. Two weeks ago he claimed any criticism of his straight-talking style had little effect on him.The relationship between the USMNT’s former and current players hasn’t always been warm and cuddly, yet the stars of the past were practically lining over the weekend to give due credit to the Paraguay performance.Fellow members of that trailblazing 1994 World Cup team, who helped lay the foundation on which further improvements to the program today, were also in awe. Both Tony Meola and Marcelo Balboa were in the building. Sitting together, they took it all in.