Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC 5 Live

There has been a lot of talk about NFL games yesterday and college football games on Saturday but this game today is a huge part of the American psyche and they will probably get the highest ever ratings for a World Cup game because they know how big this match is.

They're not just doing it because it's a World Cup game, but they believe this team can step up and create an iconic moment which they can all get behind. So I think they're a very dangerous side. From an England perspective, you hope that some of that youthful exuberance that the Americans have will be one of the reasons for their downfall today but we shall see.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

Brenden Aaronson also spoke to Rick Edwards on 5 Live Breakfast:"There's a little bit of nerves but for us and our team, we spoke about it before the game and we told ourselves that playing under pressure of that significance is a privilege as well because it means that it means something to you.

"This is a valuable moment for our team and the progress that we want to make and it was a good opening game for us.

"I think it's a good thing [that USA are the second youngest team at the World Cup after Ghana] in a way. We have so much talent and I think it goes to show with the roster that we've picked and we've sprinked in some veterans that have really helped the team on the captain's side of things.

"Tyler is probably one of the most mature young guys that I've seen so he fills that role but I think it's a really great group of guys and I think the youth we have just shows how fearless we are going into games and I like that.

"We can take a lot of things from the Wales game. In all of the games I've been a part of in my career, it's hard keeping a 1-0 lead in a tournament like this. You go up 1-0, you can either sit back or play the way that you play so we were in a mixed situation but I thought we handled it well. We still tried to do the best that we could, they got a penalty but they didn't have many clear cut chances other than that. I think it's just unlucky to have the 1-1 draw but I think we deserved more.

"I got a few really nice messages from my Leeds teammates before the last game, we've had so many messages about this game, I'm sure they're going to come at some point. There will be some banter.

"The good thing nowadays is that Americans are going over there and starting to have a name for themselves so Ted Lasso is a good banter show like that but I think the players are doing a good job of really showing that Americans can do it."

There's a light show going on at the Al Bayt, with flame cannons firing... er... fire into the sky.

The players will be joining the theatre soon.

Alex Howell
BBC Sport in Qatar

He was an academy star at Arsenal and captained England youth teams, but it was being born on a family holiday to New York that paved the way for Valencia midfielder Yunus Musah to realise his World Cup dream.

England manager Gareth Southgate suggested he would like Musah's future to be with the Three Lions. But the 19-year-old, who was also eligible for Ghana, chose the United States.

On Friday, he may well come up against one of his former academy team-mates in Arsenal's Bukayo Saka as the US take on England in their second match in Group B in Qatar.

"I am both really - English and American," Musah told BBC Sport. "I had a great time at England. I loved every time, had a lot of camps, great people and everything.

"It came to a point where I was playing in the first team [at Valencia] and playing in the under-19s when I went to the national team.

"Gregg (Berhalter, USA manager) called me and told me about the project with the US. He told me how much he wanted me in the team and I was just 17 at the time. For a first-team manager to want me that badly really helped my decision.

"Things happen in mysterious ways, I was born in the US for a reason. Now I'm playing for the national team and I'm loving it. I've had to make a few big decisions in my career and they have paid off."

Read more here.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Image source, Getty Images

This morning, USA captain Tyler Adams spoke to Rick Edwards on 5 Live Breakfast: "Leading USA out as captain is definitely not something I would have wrote up when I was four years old and dreaming of playing in a World Cup one day but it's a huge privilege to lead these boys out.

"We're like brothers and it's been a shared responsibility for sure, we have a very young and ambitious team but to be chosen as the guy that can represent our team in the greatest way possible, I was very fortunate. So I'm honoured to do that.

"Time Ream is probably the one guy who stands out and has experience, and DeAndre [Yedlin].

"We reviewed the Wales game and did analysis and saw the positives and negatives and what we can improve on. We worked on that yesterday in training but going into a game like this, you know that you're going to be able to adapt.

"England are going to be able to adapt to whatever we do, we know the quality of players that England have but ultimately we think that we match up well against them. In a game like this, the most important thing is staying disciplined for the match plan that the coach has come up with. You don't to become too individual in the game or do something special because it's a big game. You have to stick to the game plan and stick together in games like this.

"The Leeds lads will be saying 'hope you lose! Good luck in all the games except against England.' Nothing too harsh! Jesse Marsch wished us both luck before the tournament kicked off.

"The Ted Lasso billboards have been great. I've read mine, it's outside my high school which is really cool, everyone drives in and they see it. My dad sends me pictures of it because he works there as a teacher. Ted Lasso is obviously a really big hit, everyone talks about Ted Lasso to us Americans now, especially in England, they love the show."

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC 5 Live

The USA national team has improved but it was in somewhat of a crisis before that. But I think if you're talking about this new generation of players, Gio Reyna, to a certain extent Christian Pulisic and a few others, like Weah who we saw get the goal as well. They do have a new found hope because the players are so young.

But interestingly, from speaking to Americans about it, some of that youth is something they see as both a strength and a weakness. You saw that in that game against Wales where initially there was really great tempo, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams were getting around the field.

But then very quickly, once the second half started, the USA kind of faded a little bit. I think the mentality of being super fit is just simply American. One thing we've seen is that a lot of those Americans do play around the world. USA are a good side, an exciting side and people want to support them.

Lewis Coombes
Reporting from Southampton, Hampshire

Over 350 tickets have been sold for this fan zone in Southampton.

England-themed bunting and national flags draped over railings gives this a feel of familiarity, in a World Cup that has been anything but.

Supporters are in good spirits knowing a win for England means there will be at least one extra game night like this after the group stages.

There’s absolute confidence that England are going to win – which is a less familiar feeling - actually a bit unnerving.

Image source, BBC Sport

I'm really pleased Harry Kane has been declared fit for England to face the United States but we have to look after him - and Gareth Southgate could still turn to Marcus Rashford to lead the line if he does not want to risk his captain.

Kane has been able to train after suffering an ankle injury in our 6-2 win over Iran, and a scan showed there is no serious damage, but it was a reminder we must think about who would replace him in Qatar if needed - and I am happy with our options.

The most obvious Plan B is to put Newcastle striker Callum Wilson up front, because he plays down the middle for his club and he can play at least part of the provider role that Kane does so well.

I was so pleased with Wilson's decision to pass to Jack Grealish for our final goal on Monday rather than have a shot himself, and that is the kind of collective thinking that Southgate will love.

If he thinks we need a kind of backboard against the US or any other side - a player for us to feed so he can play in other people - then Wilson is the best man for the job.

Read more from Martin Keown here.

While England scored six in their opener with Iran, they did also concede two goals in the second half and centre-back John Stones feels the side have to improve their defending.

"Our feeling straight after the game was a bit deflated with how the game finished," Stones, who conceded a late penalty, told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"But I don't think there's any easy game in a World Cup, so we have to look at the overall view of what happened and [it was] probably 99% positive.

"I was upset and angry we conceded in the manner we did and angry at some decisions during the game.

"But yeah, after sleeping on it and watching the footage back, I was really pleased with our intentions - it was a great start for us as a nation."

Steve: Re: Will at 16-14. Thanks for ruining it for me tonight by being on a beach in Barbados! Steve, in a cold and miserable north east England.

James Gregory
Reporting from Shoreditch, London

Tessa, 27, is one of the few Americans here at Boxpark, Shoreditch.

She flew in from Chicago on Friday morning to visit her friends - she was going to wear a US jersey for the game tonight until they intervened.

“They told me I’m not allowed to wear a US shirt,” she says. “In the States, fans sit together and it’s banter.”

But her friends tell her “it’s not the same in England.”

“I did not know it was going to be a big England-USA game when I planned my flight,” she adds.

“But I will probably celebrate if the US score.”

Does Tessa think her country has a chance at a result?

“Not at all,” she says.

England boss Gareth Southgate was joined at Thursday's news conference by defender Harry Maguire, who has received recent criticism but will gain his 50th international cap if he plays.

"I have great belief in myself, I work as hard as possible, I give my all and that gives you good preparation to perform to the best level," said Maguire.

"As a footballer nobody likes being criticised but it's part and parcel of the game. I've played with Cristiano Ronaldo for the last couple of years and he's one of the greatest players to kick a football.

"He gets criticised daily, so if it's going to happen to him, it's going to happen to every one of us. You've just got to work hard, do your best and that's all you can do."

John: Young USA team with no reason to play for a draw against England. Could be a game talked about for decades, whatever the result.

Phil: The USA have never lost to England in the World Cup and that's not going to start today....U-S-A!

England boss Gareth Southgate said his side are "regaining our respectability on the world stage" as they aim to clinch a last-16 World Cup place.

As already stated, the Three Lions will secure a spot in the top two of Group B if they beat the United States tonight.

It would be England's fourth successive appearance in the knockout phase of a major tournament since going out in the group stages of the 2014 World Cup.

"This is a good period for English football," said Southgate on Thursday.

"At junior level, at senior level, with our women's team, there's lots of positive things going on.

"We feel we can be competitive for many years to come and that's the aim - to have a sustained challenge in the later stages of the big competitions and we've not done that for years and years.

"These players are putting the country on the map and regaining our respectability on the world stage - we need to keep doing that."

Andy Cryer
BBC Sport in Qatar

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

If there were points for most colourfully dressed fans though, the United States would be taking them home.

Some great outfits from the Americans.

Anon: I would have preferred that Callum Wilson started so that we could save Kane for when we need him. Apart from that Maguire is the only other player I’m still worried about.

Overall happy with the selection though! Come on England! The US have called it Soccer for too long let’s show them how real football is played!

Micah Richards
Former England defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

I would love to see Trent [Alexander-Arnold], I'm a big fan of his. I've been banging the drum for years and years and I know we've not seen the best of him in an England shirt but what he possesses going forward, I would love to see him get a chance as well.

Everywhere else picks itself, maybe if Maddison was fit he would get some chances.

But that's a good thing. Before when you watched England, you wondered who would play. Now we've got an array of talent and that is the best thing.

Alex Homer
Reporting from Stourbridge, West Midlands

Fans in a close-to-packed bar in the West Midlands will have a keen eye on an England player they like to call their own.

England midfielder Jude Bellingham first played for Stourbridge FC as a youngster before being selected for Birmingham City’s academy.

There’s been a steady stream of supporters arriving here since 17:10.

And those filling the bar tonight at the club where he first showcased his talent will be hoping he can repeat his goal-scoring performance from Monday’s 6-2 defeat of Iran.