The United States launched their bid for an unprecedented third consecutive world crown with a comfortable win against Women's World Cup debutants Vietnam in Auckland.
Sophia Smith struck twice before half-time for the four-time world champions in front of thousands of travelling USA fans in a crowd of 41,107.
Smith, one of 14 players in the squad appearing at their first World Cup, fired the number-one ranked team in the world ahead with a low drilled finish from an angle.
Her second was awarded following a lengthy check by the Video Assistant Referee for an offside before captain Lindsey Horan, after an assist by Smith, swept home the third in the 77th minute.
There was a memorable moment for Vietnam keeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh when she was mobbed by her jubilant team-mates after keeping out Alex Morgan's penalty, which was awarded for a foul on Trinity Rodman.
Vietnam rarely managed to get out of their own half but worked hard and produced a gritty defensive performance to keep the scoreline respectable.
There was a 40,000-plus crowd at Eden Park for the second successive game at the 2023 Women's World CupBigger tests to come
While this was not the hammering some had predicted in the build-up, the United States did enough to get their campaign off to a winning start.
Four years ago in France they recorded the biggest Women's World Cup win, a 13-0 thrashing of Thailand, in their opening game on the way to winning the tournament.
They carved out enough chances against Vietnam to record another double-digit win and there was a tinge of disappointment from boss Vlatko Andonovski that his side did not make the most of their 28 attempts.
The USA arrived in New Zealand as favourites but tougher tests lie ahead and only after Thursday's match against the Netherlands in Wellington - a repeat of the 2019 final - will their fans learn more about whether they can make it three World Cup successes in a row.
This was so comfortable that Andonovski sent on 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson for her first taste of the World Cup, while fellow substitute and icon Megan Rapinoe also made her 200th appearance for the Stars and Stripes - 17 years to the weekend she made her debut.
Rapinoe had a chance to mark the milestone with a goal but failed to take her chance, while Rose Lavelle struck the bar in the closing stages.
Vietnam fans show their support during their country's first match at a men's or women's Fifa World CupWomen's World Cup alive with colour
Eden Park was awash with colour as the defending champions launched their bid for a fifth world title.
There was red, white and blue all around the ground as fans, who had travelled thousands of miles from the United States to be in Auckland, watched their team get off to a solid start at New Zealand's national stadium.
Chants of "USA, USA, USA," broke out around the ground at regular intervals, while some supporters came dressed up as the Statue of Liberty. Others wore shirts with 'Rapinoe' on the back and one couple even brought their baby to the match.
There was also a good luck message from former US President Barack Obama before the game.
"You represent the best of the best, and I'll be cheering for you all the way," he wrote on social media.external-link
Inside the ground there were patches of red as Vietnam's expat community turned up to watch a moment in their country's sporting history, with it being the first time the nation had appeared at either a Fifa men's or women's World Cup.
Vietnam were organised, tenacious and disciplined but they did not test American keeper Alyssa Naeher once despite neutrals in the crowd roaring each time their players crossed the halfway line.
Player of the match
Tran Thi Kim ThanhTran Thi Kim Thanh
USA
Squad number11Player nameSmith
Squad number16Player nameLavelle
Squad number4Player nameGirma
Squad number8Player nameErtz
Squad number23Player nameFox
Squad number9Player nameDeMelo
Squad number1Player nameNaeher
Squad number20Player nameRodman
Squad number7Player nameThompson
Squad number17Player nameSullivan
Squad number10Player nameHoran
Squad number19Player nameDunn
Squad number13Player nameMorgan
Squad number3Player nameHuerta
Squad number5Player nameO'Hara
Squad number15Player nameRapinoe
Vietnam
Squad number14Player nameTran Thi Kim Thanh
Squad number13Player nameLê Thi Diem My
Squad number4Player nameTran Thi Thu
Squad number5Player nameHoàng Thi Loan
Squad number3Player nameChuong Thi Kieu
Squad number11Player nameThái Thi Thao
Squad number12Player namePham Hai Yen
Squad number7Player nameNguyen Thi Tuyet Dung
Squad number17Player nameTran Thi Thu Thao
Squad number10Player nameTran Thi Hai Linh
Squad number16Player nameDuong Thi Vân
Squad number2Player nameLuong Thi Thu Thuong
Squad number21Player nameNgân Thi Van Su
Squad number22Player nameNguyen Thi My Anh
Squad number23Player nameNguyen Thi Bích Thùy
Squad number9Player nameHuynh Nhu
Line-ups
USA
Formation 4-3-3
1Naeher
23Fox8Ertz4Girma19Dunn
9DeMelo17Sullivan10Horan
20Rodman13Morgan11Smith
1Naeher23FoxSubstituted forHuertaat 84'minutes8Ertz4Girma19DunnSubstituted forO'Haraat 84'minutes9DeMeloSubstituted forLavelleat 63'minutes17Sullivan10HoranBooked at 56mins20RodmanSubstituted forThompsonat 75'minutes13MorganSubstituted forRapinoeat 63'minutes11SmithSubstitutes
2Sanchez3Huerta5O'Hara6Williams7Thompson12Cook14Sonnett15Rapinoe16Lavelle18Murphy21Kingsbury22MewisVietnam
Formation 5-4-1
14Tran
17Tran2Luong13Lê4Tran5Hoàng
23Nguyen10Tran11Thái7Nguyen
9Huynh
14Tran17Tran2LuongSubstituted forChuongat 61'minutes13Lê4Tran5Hoàng23NguyenSubstituted forNguyenat 61'minutes10TranSubstituted forDuongat 89'minutes11Thái7NguyenSubstituted forNgânat 45'minutes9HuynhBooked at 75minsSubstituted forPhamat 76'minutesSubstitutes
1Dào3Chuong6Tran8Tran12Pham15Nguyen16Duong18Vu19Nguyen20Khong21Ngân22NguyenReferee:Bouchra KarboubiAttendance:41,107Live Text
Match ends, USA 3, Vietnam Women 0.
Second Half ends, USA 3, Vietnam Women 0.
Corner, USA. Conceded by Chuong Thi Kieu.
Attempt missed. Lindsey Horan (USA) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right.
Offside, USA. Lindsey Horan tries a through ball, but Rose Lavelle is caught offside.
Corner, USA. Conceded by Chuong Thi Kieu.
Substitution, Vietnam Women. Duong Thi Vân replaces Tran Thi Hai Linh because of an injury.
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Delay in match because of an injury Tran Thi Hai Linh (Vietnam Women).
Foul by Sophia Smith (USA).
Hoàng Thi Loan (Vietnam Women) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Hand ball by Alyssa Thompson (USA).
Attempt saved. Rose Lavelle (USA) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Sophia Smith.
Substitution, USA. Sofia Huerta replaces Emily Fox.
Substitution, USA. Kelley O'Hara replaces Crystal Dunn.
Offside, USA. Rose Lavelle tries a through ball, but Emily Fox is caught offside.
Corner, USA. Conceded by Tran Thi Thu Thao.
Attempt blocked. Julie Ertz (USA) right footed shot from the left side of the six yard box is blocked. Assisted by Megan Rapinoe with a cross.
Corner, USA. Conceded by Lê Thi Diem My.
Attempt missed. Megan Rapinoe (USA) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left from a direct free kick.
