Scrum penalty to England and the drums are banged! They go for the corner instead of the easy kick in front of the posts.

USA survive. England were looking promising but the ball goes down again. The nerves are to be expected given the occasion.

Zoe Harrison dribbles the ball through and her team-mates go after it. Captain Zoe Aldcroft leading by example with a big hit.

The ball is then kicked back to the Red Roses and they attack fast. The hosts are getting into their stride.

USA eventually drop the ball after a very long opening period of play. First chance to see both packs scrum.

Brian Moore
Former England hooker on BBC One

England will all be feeling slightly nervous but they will just want to get on with it!

A nervy start by England as they struggle to claim the kick-off. Zoe Harrison then clears the ball but USA come back hard.

The Red Roses are human...

Image source, Getty Images

The wait it finally over as England get their World Cup bid under way.

Ilona Maher is dancing to the camera...

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Stadium of Light

England huddle up. The United States break into shoulder-bashing warm-up pairs.

The anthems are done.

The game is on.

Welcome to the World Cup.

Image source, Getty Images

• England have won 20 of their 21 matches against USA
• USA's only win came in the first meeting between the sides, which took place in the final of the World Cup in 1991
• England have won 22 of their previous 23 World Cup pool matches
• USA have won their opening game at six of the previous nine World Cups

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Stadium of Light

Image source, Getty Images

A kind of Squid Game style set-up with Anne-Marie, blasting it out, while boiler-suited dancer whirl around her.

It goes down superbly with the crowd and some of the England support staff make use of their access-all-areas passes to get down to the touchlines and watch close up.

The biggest cheer though is reserved for the respective flags being unfurled as she holds the last note.

Maggie Alphonsi
2014 England World Cup winner on BBC One

Captain fantastic Zoe Aldcroft is someone who has taken on that leadership role at the start of the Six Nations and has really owned it.

England captain Zoe Aldcroft leads out the Red Roses. It is very, very loud! Sunderland roars.

Katy Daley-Mclean
England's 2014 World Cup winning captain on BBC One

I might not have retired in 2020, if I had known the 2025 World Cup was going to be in England.

It will be interesting because England are so dominant and for the USA it is about coming out and putting on a performance.

They have some experience and big names, I think it's going to be a tough game.

Get yourself familiar with the name Ellie Kildunne.

The England full-back is World Rugby women's player of the year and continues to shine for the Red Roses on and off the field.

Kildunne is a dangerous runner, making over 200 metres in last year's WXV1 tournament and has a lethal strike rate of 40 international tries by the age of 25.

A true superstar.

Image source, Getty Images

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Stadium of Light

There was a lot of talk from the Red Roses in the build-up about concentrating on making memories together, rather than letting the pressure of being favourites on home soil weigh them down.

They have returned to the dressing room with wide smiles on their faces, Ellie Kidunne embracing Sarah Bern and Natasha Hunt waving to the crowd.

Ilona Maher whips up the crowd as she finishes her warm-up, gripping fists and bellowing into the stands. Always on.

England's World Cup-winner Katy Daley-McLean, who is from near these ends, has the honour of bringing the World Cup on to the pitch.

Here comes the music from Anne-Marie.

Image source, Getty Images

England Rugby

England head coach John Mitchell, speaking to BBC Sport: "That was a huge entry for us [at the Stadium of Light]. How far rugby has come is just amazing.

"I think it is only natural starting the tournament with some nerves. The wait is over, we can do our talking through the good rugby and just get started, don't build our expectations too high and just enjoy it."

Director of women's rugby at World Rugby, Sally Horrox, was asked if over 40,000 tickets being sold for the game is a disappointment.

"Not at all, no I'm delighted," she said. "We've sold over 40,000 tickets for this final, which is the final for the opening game, which is more than we sold in New Zealand for the opening game and if you look back to 2017 there were 17,000 in the stands back in Belfast in 2017. We're 40,000 plus and there's more to come.

"The stories behind the scenes, it's going to go worldwide. Those 16 teams are going to engage globally with their fanbase back home and that's really important. It's not just what happens here in England, it's how this message is carried around the world to grow and accelerate that step change in the women's game we're looking for."

Sunderland's Stadium of Light holds 48,707 people.

Image source, Getty Images

Mike Henson
BBC Sport at Stadium of Light

Image source, BBC Sport

Olivia Thornton, who plays for Billingham under-12s half an hour down the road from the Stadium of Light, is attending her first rugby match as a spectator.

A decent stage to make your debut as a fan.

She and mum Kirsty are united in their appreciation of England full-back Ellie Kildunne.