World Cup 2026 live updates: Bay Area hosts 1st World Cup match at Levi's Stadium

A special agent of the FBI talked about the agency's security plans ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in the Bay Area.

The FBI's San Francisco Field Office is ramping up security preparations ahead of the first FIFA World Cup match in the Bay Area on June 13, when Qatar takes on Switzerland.

FBI Director Kash Patel said in a social media post Wednesday that preventing terrorist attacks is the agency's top priority during the tournament.

"For the FBI and its partners, preventing terrorist attacks is job #1 during the upcoming 2026 @FIFAWorldCup. Extremists have used major global sporting events in the past to do harm and spread their twisted ideologies. We are totally determined to head off any potential incidents and ensure the safety of players, fans, and all Americans and visitors during the tournament," Patel wrote.

Matt Cobo, the acting special agent in charge of the FBI's San Francisco Field Office, said the effort -- dubbed "Operation Goal Kick" -- is a coordinated, multi-agency approach to keeping fans and participants safe.

"Safety and security is everything to us. There are a lot of international matters going on in the Middle East and other parts of the world, and so we're very focused in on just the safety. And we're also leveraging intelligence centers back in Washington, D.C.," Cobo said. "So we have the International Police Cooperation Center that is based out in Virginia, and those bring in some of our international police units that are able to really understand what those threats are in those particular countries, and then help us to action that here in the U.S."

The U.S. has opened its first home World Cup in 32 years with a dynamic 4-1 victory over Paraguay.

Folarin Balogun scored twice in the Americans' historic three-goal first half.

Christian Pulisic had an assist in a stellar first-half playmaking performance for the Americans, who enthralled their Southern California fans with an aggressive attack while streaking to a 3-0 halftime lead.

Gio Reyna ripped another goal in the dying moments of second-half injury time, giving the Americans four goals in a World Cup match for the first time.

The U.S. scored only three goals combined in Qatar four years ago.

Here's a recap from the first match:

The final kick of the game is one of the best goals of Gio Reyna's career.

Maurício cuts the American lead to two with Paraguay's first goal of the World Cup.

A great ball by Malik Tillman and an even better finish by Folarin Balogun, whose second goal of the game gave the USMNT a 3-0 lead just before halftime.

Folarin Balogun does what he does best, as he found space in the box and poked home a cross from Christian Pulisic to put the USMNT up 2-0.

Damián Bobadilla's own goal puts the U.S. ahead in the opening 10 minutes against Paraguay.

Here's the reaction from fans in Philadelphia after going up 1-0.

South Korea beat Czechia 2-1 in a thrilling Group A game in Mexico on Thursday night.

South Korea went down 1-0 after a goal by Ladislav Krejci in the 59th minute but then scored twice to come away with three points. A goal by Oh Hyeon-Gyu in the 80th minute proved to be the difference.

Mexico's 2-0 win over South Africa brought joy to El Tri's army of fans.

"Let's go for more," Isidro Martínez, an excited 36-year-old businessman, said after Mexico took the lead early in the first half.

Martínez, his brother, and a friend were among the throngs of people who watched the match at a fan fest in Mexico City's main square. It was one of 18 in cities throughout Mexico.

At the Angel monument on one of the capital's main avenues, hundreds of fans watched as Mexico doubled its lead in the second half of a choppy game that ended with three red card ejections, including one for a Mexican player.

"We are going to win my friend, We're going for it all!" screamed Gerry Legarreta, a 52-year-old American who traveled from the Texas border city of El Paso to celebrate his birthday while watching the game.

In front of him, a group of people, including children, danced in a circle waving the Mexican flag. On the other side of the traffic circle, a band added to the raucous atmosphere by banging drums and playing trumpets.

In Tacuba, an area in northern Mexico City, Irene Rosell Soriano cheered on El Tri from a wheelchair, her legs covered by the Mexican flag.

"These are the final games of my life," said Rosell Soriano, who at age 92, was probably the oldest fan at that watch party. "And, well, I have to enjoy them."