The World Cup opened its first weekend with significant fan engagement across the United States, as soccer enthusiasts gathered in major cities to watch the tournament's initial matches.

Television ratings for the opening games reached notably high levels, while ticket prices reflected strong demand from fans seeking to attend matches in person. The enthusiasm was visible in American cities where large crowds of supporters congregated to follow the action.

However, the tournament's opening was not without complications for participating teams. Uruguay's national team encountered travel difficulties ahead of their World Cup opener, with their departure from Cancun, Mexico delayed from its scheduled Sunday afternoon time.

The team had established their base camp in Cancun prior to the tournament, but logistical issues disrupted their planned travel schedule. Uruguay's representatives attributed the travel chaos to FIFA, though specific details of the complications were not immediately available.

The contrast between fan excitement and operational challenges highlighted both the massive global interest in the World Cup and the complex logistics required to coordinate an international tournament of this scale.