The opening fixture will carry pressure regardless of the opponent. A home World Cup creates expectation, and the first anthem can turn that pressure into energy for the players.
The report says McKennie expects the setting and support in the stadium to make the opening match especially meaningful. That matters for a midfielder, whose performance often depends on composure during the first stages of a major tournament. A strong start against Paraguay would give the United States an early platform, while a nervy opening could amplify the scrutiny around the team.
McKennie has reportedly recalled hearing the anthem for the first time with the senior national team in Portugal. Experiencing it again in front of American supporters would mark a clear progression from early international football to a leading role at a home World Cup.
His connection to the tournament also reaches back to childhood. The report says his earliest World Cup memory came from Germany 2006, when his family were living there because of his father’s military service. That background gives the moment added continuity: a distant tournament memory could soon become a home-stadium experience.
McKennie is reportedly expected to be part of the United States squad, although his exact role and involvement should become clearer closer to the opener. The emotional pull of the anthem will last only minutes; the midfield work that follows will shape the team’s campaign.
The next storyline is therefore straightforward: whether McKennie can convert the anticipation of 12 June into a composed, influential display against Paraguay.