Ten observations after attending a World Cup match in the US

With the World Cup getting into full swing, Al Jazeera offers some tips for fans looking to attend a game in the US.Los Angeles, California – The United States of America, the land of Donald Trump, baseball, gun violence and endless highways, is now co-host to football’s biggest tournament.The World Cup is off to a good start for the US, with its team beating Paraguay four to one in Los Angeles on Friday. The result was an electric, hometown celebration, despite the visible clusters of empty seats.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3World Cup Day 3: Brazil begin campaign as Trump, Partey make headlineslist 2 of 3Oval Office octagon: How Trump turned combat sports into a political weaponlist 3 of 3Fans reveal how much they paid for World Cup ticketsend of listBefore kickoff at SoFi Stadium, there were concerns about organisation and logistics, but Friday’s game went largely without incident.The US, which is organising the tournament with Canada and Mexico, is set to host 78 of the 104 matches in this year’s World Cup.Here are some observations and tips for fans after the first US-based game in Los Angeles:Invest in transparent bags: Any bag bigger than a wallet will not be allowed into the stadium, unless it’s see-through. So if you’re attending a game in the US, keep your purse or backpack at home and buy a clear bag if you must have one.Get ready for airport-style security: The process is pretty standard. Empty your pockets, put your see-through bag in the scanner and be ready for further inspection if the security gate beeps.Food and drink prices are outrageous: $5.25 for a bottle of water… $5.75 for a small bag of crisps… As much as $21.50 for a beer. Expect to pay at least twice the normal price for food and beverages at the stadium.Get the ticket app: Gatekeepers at the stadium will not accept any alternative to the FIFA app, FWC2026, when it comes to validating tickets. You may be able to add the ticket from the app to your digital wallet before the game, but screenshots and printouts will not do, so make sure your phone is charged.