World Cup Photo Daily

Day 2 | JUNE 12

Canada’s opening ceremony had dancers dressed in the red and white of the national flag, a performance by Michael Bublé, and a possible wardrobe malfunction for one of the figures on the giant inflatable World Cup trophy.

Cyle Larin came off the bench to score a late equalizing goal – and with it, Canada’s first ever point at a World Cup. Larin celebrated, and all around Canada fans went wild.

The United States got their World Cup off to a dream start, as fans gathered all over the country from Washington, D.C. to California to cheer on their team. The co-hosts beat Paraguay 4-1 in Los Angeles, their highest ever score in a World Cup match.

U.S. captain Tim Ream called it an amazing result. “It’s exactly the way we wanted to start the tournament.”

The sold-out game, which featured singer Katy Perry in a dazzling opening ceremony, drew high-profile spectators, including Tom Cruise and David Beckham.

Day 1 | JUNE 11

Mexico got the World Cup party underway as the co-hosts swept aside South Africa 2-0 on Thursday, a tempestuous clash that kicked off the quadrennial extravaganza. The ill-tempered match, which featured three red card dismissals, spoiled an otherwise party atmosphere, with the home crowd celebrating an opening victory that will set them up nicely to make it out of a group that also includes South Korea and the Czech Republic.

It was a day of firsts for the World Cup, as the first 48-team edition, and the first to be held in three countries, got underway in the first stadium to host three World Cup openers. The match was also the first World Cup opener to feature three red cards.

Later that day, the action moved some 500 km (310 miles) west to Guadalajara, where South Korea’s stylish football triumphed over the Czech Republic’s rugged play in an adrenaline-fuelled encounter.

South Korea came from behind to claim a 2-1 victory thanks to intricate play and precision passes. The team were buoyed by a largely Mexican crowd in Guadalajara that was clearly rooting for them, but there were noticeable areas of empty seats in the stadium.

Strong and dangerous on almost every set-piece, the Czechs, at their first game in the World Cup in 20 years, stuck with what they knew best, but couldn’t snatch an equaliser in a dramatic finish.

Purchase licensing rights for these photos and more at Reuters Connect