The date marks the 70th anniversary of Walt Disney opening the Happiest Place on Earth.

The first people to visit the park on Sunday, July 17, 1955, were invited guests during an “International Press Preview” event that included studio employees, construction workers, the media and company sponsors.

The park actually opened to the public the next day: July 18, 1955.

For Thursday’s anniversary, the crowd that gathered at the main gate was greeted with a train full of Disney characters that pulled into the Main Street Station just before the park opened.

Visitors were handed a commemorative pin and special edition guide map as they entered and were welcomed by cheering employees lining Main Street, U.S.A.

The afternoon had a modified parade, “The Celebrate Happy Cavalcade — Disneyland’s Birthday Celebration Edition.”

But most of the park was business as usual, with park visitors enjoying what Walt built.

None of the employees had visible injuries, said Brian Humphrey, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

More than 100 firefighters responded around 8 p.m. near Figueroa Street and Lomita Boulevard, including members of an urban search-and-rescue team. By 9:15 p.m., all of the workers were safely out of the tunnel, Humphrey said.

The workplace site is east of the 110 Freeway and north of Pacific Coast Highway.

The tunnel, which measures 18 feet in diameter, is the $630 million Clearwater Tunneling Project and is being constructed to move wastewater from Carson to San Pedro. It collapsed about five to six miles south of the tunnel’s only access point, Humphrey said.

The workers had water up to their mid-thighs, said Interim Chief Ronnie Villanueva of the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Of the 31 workers, 27 were trapped by the partial collapse of the tunnel, and then four others went in to try to help them, Villanueva said.

“A section that they had already built had squeezing ground and had a partial collapse,” said Robert Ferrante, lead engineer with the L.A. County Sanitation Districts. “It didn’t completely fill the tunnel.”

That allowed the men to get through that area and get to a vehicle to get back to the shaft.

“There was only one way out at that time to get them back here to the shaft,” Ferrante said. “It was very scary. We’re very fortunate no one was hurt, and the response was phenomenal to get everyone checked out.”

Investigators believe some of the trapped workers pushed over a pile of loose soil between 12 feet and 15 feet tall to meet some of their co-workers on the other side and be shuttled several at a time to the access point on the surface.

Workers were brought out of the tunnel in a cage hoisted up by a crane.

“These workers are highly skilled men,” said L.A. Councilman Tim McOsker, whose district includes Wilmington. “This is a highly technical, difficult project and they knew exactly what to do. They knew how to secure themselves; they knew how to get to the (vehicle) to get them back.”

The workers were 400 feet below ground, operating a boring machine and working in shifts, driving a vehicle to and from the machine, Ferrante said.

Before workers started escaping the tunnel collapse, worried family members had gathered nearby.

Maria Orozco arrived to West Q Street and Figueroa Street and had her hands pressed against her chest. Following behind was her daughter’s family from Los Angeles.

Orozco has three sons who are working on the project.

“I’m waiting for my sons,” she said in Spanish. “I need to know for sure if they’re safe; I have three sons working here, and they’re not answering their phones. …

“I was at church and today; it was my daughter’s turn to pray and I asked her to pray for my sons,” she said. “I think in that moment was when they were facing this problem.

“During church, I don’t have my phone on but once I checked it I saw I had many missed calls,” she said. “Then my daughter let me know that something was wrong. I really felt it in my heart that something happened, that’s when she let me know that the tunnel had collapsed.

“The truth is I’m feeling a lot of sadness at the moment, because I’m yet to know how they’re doing,” she said.

Later, she said, “One of my sons called me to let me know that they had gotten out.”

The three sons live in Los Angeles, Long Beach and Signal Hill and all have families of their own, she said. She has twins who are 35 and the youngest son who is 30.

“They have their own children as well who were worried,” Orozco said. “I want to see them, I want to see them.”

Chief Villanueva reassured Orozco that all the workers were fine and were being seen by paramedics.

“Don’t worry,” he told Orozco. “I saw all of them, and it looks like they’re all fine.”

The mother let out a sigh of relief.

Authorities said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will investigate the collapse, which is standard with workplace accidents, in addition to the Sanitation Districts itself.

“We don’t have any information about the nature of the collapse yet,” said Michael Chee, spokesman for the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts.

“What I just got a report on is that 31 crew members were down in the tunnel,” he said. “They have all been extricated safely. There are no significant or major injuries that I know of.

“We understand that our crew that was working down in the tunnel boring machine, which is approximately five miles heading towards the coast from this point, and it was designed to build the tunnel about seven miles long before it reached the coast.”

Mayor Karen Bass said she talked to workers and said they were relieved and had been calling their families.

Planning for the tunneling project began as early as 2006. The aim was to replace two aging underground wastewater pipes, which were installed in 1937 and in 1958. The project was officially approved in 2021 and expected to take approximately three to four years to complete.

The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts will conduct one probe that will be done with Flatiron West and Dragados USA, which are constructing what is called the Clearwater Tunnel.

“The investigation will look at the safety, engineering and structural integrity of the tunnel and has already begun,” the Sanitation Districts said in a statement. “Clearwater Tunnel operations have been halted while this investigation takes place and there is no timeframe for how long the process will take.”

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who also sits on the Sanitations Districts board, said the the agency “will do everything we can to prevent anything else like this from happening again.”

Staff writers Mona Darwish, Kristy Hutchings and Nathaniel Percy contributed to this story.

The heat wave expected to bring triple digits temperatures to some parts of Southern California this week has everyone looking for ways to stay cool.

Perez, who has worked in the downtown Long Beach area for about five years, travels from Fontana with other ice cream vendors to sell. Though the coast is typically cooler than her hometown, she says she prepares for the heat.

“We prepare ourselves in the morning with our hat, our chair, our cart,” Perez said in Spanish. “And then we’re ready to go for the day.”

Highs above 100 degrees in some parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties are expected Thursday and Friday, according to the National Weather Service, which issued a heat advisory for the region in effect through 8 p.m. Thursday, July 10.

Areas in Los Angeles County’s deserts may reach the mid- to high 90s, meanwhile, with Downtown Los Angeles expected to reach 90 degrees on Thursday. Temperatures along the coast are expected to be mild.

“The mountains won’t be a cool spot, they are expected to be quite warm into the 80s,” said Casey Oswant, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. “The coast will probably be the coolest place if people are looking to cool off.”

With few clouds lingering at the beach Thursday making for sunny conditions, temperatures along the coast will be mid- to upper 70s. Be warned – beachgoers could get a toe-numbing cool down if they dip in the water, with ocean tempertures on Wednesday showing in the low 60s due to a strong northwest wind earlier in the week that churned up colder water and displaced warmer surface water, Oswant said.

While waves got up into the 4-foot range on Wednesday, the swell should be dropping to 2 to 3 feet the next few days. Still, beachgoers should be aware of rip currents, she noted.

“People should always make sure they are talking to lifeguards before they get into the water,” Oswant said.

Coastal temperatures will be slightly cooler into the weekend and low clouds could make a return.

In the Inland Empire, the weather service warned temperatures will be in high 90s to low 100s on Thursday and Friday before cooling slightly this weekend.

The city of Riverside has nearly 20 cooling centers active in the area to assist with the heat wave. Public pools in the area opened up last month and remain open until Aug. 14 with several of them open on weekdays and Saturdays.

With San Bernardino County at a higher heat risk, officials warned that extreme heat can cause power outages and urged residents to be prepared. The increased risk of wildfire, meanwhile, led Southern California Edison last week to warn about potential public safety power shutoffs.

Temperatures are expected to hit the 90s in north Orange County this week, with inland cities such as Yorba Linda seeing some of the hottest conditions. The heat can take a toll on outdoor workers, especially greenskeepers tasked with maintaining massive stretches of grass under the sun.

At the Yorba Linda Country Club, where the par-71 course spans more than 6,800 yards, towering trees offer some shade, but it’s still grueling work.

Course superintendent Daniel Schubert, who manages the 20-person maintenance crew, said the team adjusts their schedule on hotter days to beat the worst of the heat.

“We’ll start our day around an hour earlier, around 5 a.m., to get the course prepped for play,” Schubert said.

To stay safe, Schubert said workers are encouraged to take frequent breaks and drink plenty of water. The crew also wears breathable uniforms designed for high temperatures — long sleeves made of performance fabric that cools the body while providing sun protection.

“I think you can clock it up to somewhere around three to three and a half to four miles worth of walking when we mow green. And just honestly, being in the elements, working outside, getting dirty,” he said.

To help manage the heat, he added, “We also schedule the guys in the afternoons, when the heat is stronger, doing jobs that might be a little less stressful. We try to get them in shades and obviously just continue to remind them to stay hydrated and take the breaks. It’s a tough job.”

To keep cool and stay safe during a heat wave, the NWS advises residents to drink plenty of fluids and offers the following tips:

• Opt for an air-conditioned room to stay comfortable.
• Stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.
• Do not leave young children and pets unattended in vehicles when car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.
• If working or spending time outside, be sure to take additional safety measures.
• When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening.
• Learn the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing.

For information about cooling centers operated by Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, see LAcounty.gov/heat/, OCgov.com/cooling-centers, CAPRiverside.org/cool-centers and DPH.SBCounty.gov/extreme-heat-information-and-resources.

The popular Southern California mountain getaway was recently voted best lake in America in a USA Today poll.

Additionally, the lake placed third for best lake for watersports, beating out other well-known destinations such as Lake Havasu in Arizona and Lake Michigan.

“This is a very proud moment for the community of Big Bear Lake,” Travis Scott, Visit Big Bear CEO, said in a news release. “We have a deep appreciation for our lake, which is a rare treasure indeed.”

In addition to having bragging rights for visiting the best lake in America, visitors from the valleys and cities below the San Bernardino Mountains will find its newest reprieve from the summer heat — a floating waterpark.

Brian Boyd, the waterpark’s owner, dubs it a “Wipeout”-like obstacle course. The 40-by-60-foot floating waterpark features 12-foot-high platforms, tunnels, a waterslide and more.

The water park is located at Pine Knot Marina near Big Bear Village.

Guests can reserve 45-minute sessions daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Sept. 1, 2025. Cost is $19.95 per person. The waterpark is open to guests ages 8 and up, as well as those ages 4-7 with a paid accompanying adult.

See BigBearWatersports.com for information and tickets.

Check out the photos and follow The Orange County Register on Facebook and Instagram. Here are our staff photographers’ individual pages: Paul Bersebach, Jeff Gritchen, Jeff Gritchen Aerial Images, Leonard Ortiz, Mark Rightmire, and Mindy Schauer.

Stay safe and stay healthy!

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A bright moon peeked through the trees, rising over a nearby ridge, as I sat with my wife around the warm orange glow of a fire at our campsite at O’Neill Regional Park in Trabuco Canyon.

The park’s Arroyo Campground was a relatively quiet on this cool weekday evening. My tent was pitched close by beneath the expansive spread of a large oak tree with other oaks and sycamores nearby that offered much-welcomed shade during the daytime sun.

The campground has 79 campsites that accommodate both tent and RV camping. In addition to the regular campsites, there are eight large group campsites and five equestrian campsites that feature horse corrals, fire pits and barbecue facilities.

O’Neill Regional Park is approximately 4,500 acres nestled in the wooded Trabuco and Live Oak canyons, offering more than 23 miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking or horseback riding.

Rising just to the east of the park are Modjeska and Santiago peaks, located in the adjacent Cleveland National Forest, both of which tower above the surrounding landscape at more than 5,000 feet.

Seasonally, during winter and spring, the Trabuco and Hickey creeks flow through the park, with Trabuco Creek located adjacent to the campground. It provides a source of water for birds and other wildlife of the area, including mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes and other smaller animals. Recent signs posted at trailheads announce that a mountain lion was last seen in the park on May 20.

With the park being a short drive from much of Orange County, one can get away for a weekend of camping or even for just a few hours for a picnic or a walk along the popular Arroyo Trabuco Trail to experience the solitude of nature.

A variety of spring wild flowers, lizards, squirrels and hawks can be seen even on a short hike. If you’re lucky, you may see other wildlife. If not, the drive is worth a few hours of adventure.

For more specific park information and reservations, go to: ocparks.com/oneill. The park office can be reached at: 949-923-2260.

Park officials encourage making reservations three to four weeks ahead because they can fill up, especially on the weekends. Picnic areas are first-come or by reservation and include picnic tables and barbecues.

For children, OC Parks hosts a Jr. Ranger program featuring activities and exploration with the rangers as well as a booklet for self-guided activities to earn a badge. Find out more about the program and upcoming activities at this park and others at ocparks.com/jr-ranger.

Get outside

Location: 30892 Trabuco Canyon Road, Trabuco Canyon

Hours: Open 365 days a year, 7 a.m. to sunset

Amenities:

Amphitheater

Bike Trails

Camping

Conference Rooms

Dump Station

Equestrian Trails

Hiking Trails

Horseshoe Pits

Interpretive Programs Center

Picnic areas

Restrooms

Playgrounds

RV Camping

Scenic overlook

Showers

For more information: ocparks.com/oneill

Explore the secluded redwood forest at Carbon Canyon Regional Park

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Santiago Oaks Regional Park offers trails, nature watching and even a place to get married

Huntington Central Park has everything from horses to disc golf to a dog park

Laguna Beach’s Top of the World where trails meet amazing views

But Wright’s quieter legacy lies in the houses he designed for ordinary people. There are roughly a half-dozen around the Bay Area, executed in a modest yet alluring style he called Usonian (his shorthand for architecture that’s uniquely “United States of North Independent America”). Young professionals wrote the star architect begging him to make their dream homes. To their great surprise, he often agreed, descending with cape and cane to manifest beautiful designs for the ages.

Born in 1867 in Wisconsin, Wright moved to the Bay Area in the 1950s to oversee his projects here. His time in the region marked an important period in his career for both projects finished and unrealized. Among his never-built structures were a wedding pavilion for Berkeley’s Claremont Resort & Club and a butterfly-themed Bay Bridge with a lush, hanging garden. Even Hollywood has benefited from his local work: Since his death in 1959, his architecture has been featured in films from “Gattaca” to George Lucas’ first movie, “THX 1138.”

“Extending over nearly sixty years and including a broad range of building types, Wright’s Bay Area works are distinctive mainly for their diversity and the unprecedented nature of many of them,” writes Stanford professor emeritus Paul V. Turner in his 2016 book, “Frank Lloyd Wright and San Francisco.” “They demonstrate, perhaps more than his buildings in any other location, the amazing variety and innovation of his creations, and the fertility of his imagination.”

So what exactly is a Usonian home?

“It’s a made-up term. He wanted to see an indigenous American architecture flourish here in this country and not ape European architecture,” says William J. “Bill” Schwarz, a licensed architect in Marin County who worked on the Civic Center and was close with Wright’s local protege, Aaron Green. “He sought an expression of American democracy – freedom, in other words, extension, openness. Democracy is fragile, but it’s open, and it’s vulnerable. So Wright’s little houses are a little bit fragile, and they have lots of glass.”

The houses were to be affordable and accessible to the middle class; Wright even produced “Usonian Automatic” plans, like DIY Sears kits, for folks who weren’t professional builders. They typically had modular and repeating motifs, a concrete-slab floor with radiant heating, fluid spaces that blurred room separations and flat roofs that often sprung leaks, the bane of his career.

Unpainted wood and other natural materials factored large as did sprawling glass windows that opened onto courtyards and green spaces. There was a distinct lack of garages. “He had a lot of ideas about what he thought was a waste of resources,” says John H. Waters, preservation programs director at Chicago’s Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy. “To him, a car was perfectly fine — this is someone from Wisconsin. But he thought, ‘Why spend money on the walls of a space for a car, when you can spend it on your own space?’”

The Hanna House on the Stanford University campus is the earliest and one of the best examples of Usonian principles in the Bay Area. Erected in 1937, the house relies on a grid system of hexagons – like a bee’s honeycomb – and lacks traditional right angles.

“There’s not a 90-degree corner in the house in terms of the arrangement of the walls,” says Schwarz. “He thought it was an interesting alternative that would facilitate human movement through the spaces – you’d bump up against a 90-degree corner, but you’d kind of glance off a 120-degree corner. He was an innovator, and if anything came to his attention that was different than what’s been done, he would explore it.”

Next up for Wright was the Sidney Bazett House in Hillsborough, built in 1940 with a similar hexagonal grid and “sleeping boxes” that opened up to the outdoors. These homes gain their names from their owners; this one’s also known as the Bazett-Frank House for a subsequent owner who built an addition. It’s also important to note that most of these homes are privately owned and not available for tours.

The Bazett home features the smallest bedroom Wright ever designed, which for unclear reasons was nicknamed the “Mummy Room” — perhaps because it felt as cramped as a sarcophagus? Famed architect Bernard Maybeck stopped by during its construction, according to Turner’s book, and expressed himself as “both puzzled and intrigued.”

The Robert Berger House in San Anselmo was based on a Wright plan but built by the owner, who beginning in the early 1950s would pour into it 20 years of backbreaking labor. The thick walls were made by dropping rough-cut stones into wood frames and flooding concrete over them to create a rustic desert vibe with visible stone in the surfaces. Near the end, the owner estimated he’d lifted more than a million pounds of material and must have the “heaviest house in Marin County.”

These painstaking design touches were vintage Wright. “He would design everything, if he could. He’d design the silverware if you let him,” says Schwarz.

For instance, the Berger home is notable for having the smallest structure Wright ever devised – a doghouse for the owner’s 12-year-old son, named Eddie’s House in honor of the special pup. The canine hut had all the traits of Wright’s style, including a hidden entrance in the back and an overhanging roof that was quite flat – and leaked. The story goes the dog refused to use it, which the son recalled as being “kind of depressing.”

Wright designed at least two other existing homes in the Bay Area: the circa-1950 Mathews House in Atherton, remarkable for its lovely use of organic materials, and the late-1940s Maynard Buehler House in Orinda. An example of Wright’s fandom for Asian art and culture, the latter property had enchanting gardens created by Henry Matsutani Sr., lead designer of the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park.

The young owners who originally commissioned Wright went through some alarm seeing their construction budget double. “I’m sitting around here watching my wife become a nervous wreck!” the husband wrote the architect, according to Turner. “Every day, she meets the mailman half way up the block looking for a letter from you. She is worrying herself sick about rising building costs.”

The husband described Wright as the “most domineering person I ever met,” and the wife considered him “arrogant” and “self-centered.” One issue of contention was her request for a bigger kitchen, which reportedly led Wright to remark: “Madame, you do not seem to realize that women have been emancipated from the kitchen.”

It’s true that Wright could rub people the wrong way. There’s a reason that Ayn Rand cited him as the partial inspiration for Howard Roark, the individualist-architect hero of “The Fountainhead.” He had strong opinions underlying his work and did not suffer criticism without a fight.

Mark Anthony Wilson, an art historian and professor living in Berkeley, recalls being a child and attending one of Wright’s lectures. Two students in the audience decided to be smart alecks and ambushed him about his belief that everything in a home must have a function.

“They said, ‘In one of your houses in Wisconsin there’s a staircase that doesn’t go anywhere — it just leads up to the top of a platform, and there’s no access. So why did you put in a nonfunctioning staircase?” recalls Wilson, author of the 2018 book, “Frank Lloyd Wright on the West Coast.” “He said, ‘OK, I’ll tell you why I designed that. I designed it for the two of you to climb up to the top and jump off.’

“That was rewarded with laughter, including from my parents. And that’s classic Wright, of course.”

In the end, the owners of the Buehler House made peace with Wright, and the wife even called him a genius. “Overlooking the leaks in the roof,” they wrote to him, “we can’t imagine living anywhere else – we love it.”

Huntington Beach’s Igarashi runner up, Brazilian Yago Dora wins Trestles Pro

Paris Saint-Germain plays against Atlético Madrid with 80,619 in attendance during the second half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0.(Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Kangin Lee, center, celebrates after scoring a goal against Atlético Madrid during the second half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0.(Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha, right, scores a goal past Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak (13) during the first half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0.(Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Kangin Lee (19) converts a penalty kick for a goal past Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak (13) during the second half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0.(Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Désiré Doué looks to pass against Atlético Madrid during the first half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabián Ruiz (8) celebrates after scoring a goal against Atlético Madrid during the first half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabián Ruiz, top, heads the ball against Atlético Madrid forward Giuliano Simeone (22) during the first half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Fabián Ruiz, not pictured, scores a goal past Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak during the first half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0.(Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Paris Saint-Germain forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, right, is upended by Atlético Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente (14) during the first half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha celebrates after scoring a goal against Atlético Madrid during the first half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha, front, move the ball defended by Atlético Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios during the first half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Mexico defender César Montes (3) and Dominican Republic forward Dorny Romero (17) chase the ball down during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Paris Saint-Germain fans reacts as players walk onto the filed prior to the start of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match against Atlético Madrid at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Luis Enrique, center, yells directions to his players during the first half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match against Atlético Madrid at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Atlético Madrid head coach Diego Simeone, center, reacts during the first half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match against Paris Saint-Germain at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Désiré Doué, left, moves the ball past Atlético Madrid midfielder Marcos Llorente, center, during the first half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Atlético Madrid forward Alexander Sørloth (9) heads the ball against Paris Saint-Germain midfielder João Neves (87) during the second half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Paris Saint-Germain fans hold a sign up prior to the start of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Paris Saint-Germain starting eleven pose for a portrait prior to the start of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match against Atlético Madrid at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Paris Saint-Germain defender Nuno Mendes kicks the ball chased by Atlético Madrid forward Giuliano Simeone during the first half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Paris Saint-Germain forward Gonçalo Ramos, right, collides with Atlético Madrid midfielder Pablo Barrios during the first half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Paris Saint-Germain forward Gonçalo Ramos, back, tries to block a kick by Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak, front, during the first half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Atlético Madrid midfielder Rodrigo De Paul kicks the ball against Paris Saint-Germain during the second half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Atlético Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak (13) deflects the ball against Paris Saint-Germain during the second half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Atlético Madrid forward Giuliano Simeone, center, brings the ball up the field against Paris Saint-Germain during the second half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Atlético Madrid defender Clément Lenglet (15) moves the ball defended by Paris Saint-Germain midfielder João Neves (87) during the second half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0.(Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Atlético Madrid forward Ángel Correa kicks the ball chased by Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha during the second half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Atlético Madrid forward Julián Álvarez (19) moves the ball against Paris Saint-Germain during the second half of a FIFA Club World Cup soccer match at Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Paris Saint-Germain won 4-0.(Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

PASADENA — The champions are looking to stay the champions.

Paris Saint-Germain, who won the UEFA Champions League to cap their season earlier this month, kicked off the FIFA Club World Cup in strong fashion Sunday at the Rose Bowl in front of 80,619.

PSG, one of the favorites to win the first 32-team, expanded version of the tournament, continued its dominance with a 4-0 victory over Atletico Madrid in Group B.

“I don’t have a single doubt, we’re the favorites to win the tournament,” PSG coach Luis Enrique said. “Perhaps the result was too big, but we deserved to win.

“It’s a long season, but we’re happy with the match ….the conditions are difficult with the heat, but the goal is to keep the same energy.”

This was the first of six games to be played at the Rose Bowl in group stage.

To incentivize teams to compete, especially after a long club season for European clubs, FIFA has created a wage scale that even pays $1 million for a draw in a group stage game. Any win in the group stage earns teams $2 million.

PSG didn’t appear to need any extra motivation.

Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring in the 19th minute and early into first-half stoppage time, Vitinha made it 2-0. Vitinha’s goal came moments after Atletico Madrid nearly opened its scoring account, Antoine Griezmann’s attempt was smothered by PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

“We’re happy and we’re continuing our positive run,” Enrique said. “We have to improve and keep this momentum going. It’s a different competition, but a very attractive one.”

The expanded tournament is the creation of FIFA president Gianni Infantino. The old version consisted of champions from the different confederations around the world.

“For the first time in history, the 32 best clubs in the world will compete in a tournament to determine finally who is the best club in the world,” he said at a pre-tournament event. “The winner can win up to $125 million, so this is of course very, very significant. But it’s about the glory, as well, of writing your name, the name of the winning club and of all the participating clubs, writing your name in history.”

Atletico scored just before the 60th-minute mark on a clean finish by Julian Alvarez. However, the goal was disallowed after a video review check due to a foul on Atletico in the build-up.

“At 2-0, VAR called the referee when we scored,” Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone said through translation. “He had let the play continue. The details are obvious. They ruled out our goal and then Lenglet was sent off. I get tired of talking about the referees because then I look like a victim.”

From there, things snowballed for Diego Simeone’s men. Atletico went down to 10 men on Clement Lenglet’s second yellow card in the 76th minute. In all, Atletico received seven yellow cards.

Ten minutes later, PSG put the game firmly away on Senny Mayulu’s goal for a 3-0 lead. Lee Kang-in capped the day with a successful penalty kick deep into stoppage time.

“With a 4-0 result, you can’t really complain about some things,” Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Jan Oblak said. “We have to keep our heads up and do better.”

The teams met last November in the league phase play in the UEFA Champions League, with Atletico winning 2-1 thanks to a stoppage time goal by Angel Correa.

Atletico finished its domestic season in third place, behind Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spain’s La Liga.

PSG returns to action, Thursday, also at the Rose Bowl against Botafogo of Brazil. Atletico moves to Seattle for its second group stage game, facing the Seattle Sounders.

“It was a very tough opponent to play against,” PSG’s captain Marquinhos said. “But our team showed its strength again.”

PSG played without its star midfielder Ousmane Dembele due to a hamstring injury.

Mexico forward Raúl Jiménez, front, kicks a goal against the Dominican Republic during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Mexico midfielder Orbelín Pineda (17) collides with Dominican Republic forward Peter González (19) during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Mexico midfielder Erik Lira (6) controls the ball against the Dominican Republic during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Mexico forward Raúl Jiménez (9) moves the ball defended Dominican Republic defender Joao Urbáez (2) by during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Mexico midfielder Edson Álvarez, left, celebrates after scoring a goal against the Dominican Republic during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Dominican Republic forward Dorny Romero, left, vies for the ball with Mexico midfielder Erik Lira during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Mexico midfielder Edson Álvarez (4) celebrates with teammates after he scores a goal against the Dominican Republic during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Dominican Republic midfielder Edison Azcona (13) is challenged by Mexico forward Roberto Alvarado (25) during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Mexico forward Raúl Jiménez, left, kicks the ball past Dominican Republic goalkeeper Xavier Valdez (12) for a goal during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Mexico defender César Montes (3) and teammate midfielder Edson Álvarez (4) play a game of rock paper scissors after Mexico scores a goal against the Dominican Republic during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Mexico goalkeeper Ángel Malagón (1) kicks the ball against the Dominican Republic during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Dominican Republic defender Luiyi de Lucas (23) heads the ball defended by Mexico forward Julián Quiñones (16) during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Mexico forward Julián Quiñones (16) is upended by Dominican Republic midfielder Jean López (14) during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Mexico forward Santiago Gimenez, right, takes a goal shot defended by Dominican Republic defender Edgar Pujol during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Mexico fans reacts to the camera at the end of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match between Mexico and the Dominican Republic at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Dominican Republic midfielder Heinz Mörschel, left, kicks the ball from Mexico midfielder Carlos Rodríguez during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Mexico forward Alexis Vega (10) kicks the ball defended by Dominican Republic midfielder Jimmy Kaparos (18) during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Dancers perform while fireworks are launched prior to the start of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match between Mexico and the Dominican Republic at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Mexico forward Raúl Jiménez (9) is pulled by Dominican Republic midfielder Jimmy Kaparos (18) as Jiménez tries to recover the ball during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Mexico midfielder Edson Álvarez (4) looks to pass against the Dominican Republic during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Dominican Republic forward Peter González (19) celebrates after he scores a goal against Mexico during the second half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Dominican Republic forward Peter González (19) chases the ball down against Mexico during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Dominican Republic midfielder Jean López (14) moves the ball against Mexico during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Dominican Republic goalkeeper Xavier Valdez (12) deflects the ball against Mexico during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Dominican Republic head coach Gabriel Neveleff points to the field during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match against Mexico at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Mexico head coach Javier Aguirre looks on during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match against the Dominican Republic at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

Mexico defender César Montes (3) and Dominican Republic forward Dorny Romero (17) chase the ball down during the first half of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

A Mexico fan reacts to the camera at the end of a CONCACAF Gold Cup soccer match between Mexico and the Dominican Republic at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Mexico won 3-2. (Photo by Raul Romero Jr., Contributing Photographer)

INGLEWOOD — The Mexican national team kicked off defense of its CONCACAF Gold Cup title Saturday with a wild and entertaining clash with the Dominican Republic.

The atmosphere probably wasn’t as lively as a normal Mexico national team match in L.A., but that’s understandable considering what’s going on outside of the sport of soccer and the ongoing immigration raids that kept many people home.

However, the 54,309 in attendance at SoFi Stadium, were witness to a wild 20-minute stretch in the second half, that saw the teams four goals, with Mexico building a two-goal lead twice, Dominican Republic cutting it in half twice, with the night eventually ending with a 3-2 Mexico win in the first game of Group A.

“The opponent scored two times, they did well, played nicely,” Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said. “They had nothing to lose. We could have don more on the goals. It could have ended 3-0. The team didn’t crumble. The opponent took us to the limit, but it was a nice victory to begin with.

“There’s no such thing as small opponent and it was proven today.”

Mexico, who has won nine Gold Cup titles, is the defending champion, having defeated Panama 1-0 in 2023, in a final that was played at SoFi Stadium. Mexico has found a lot of success recently at SoFi. Earlier this year, Mexico won the CONCACAF Nations League title, defeating Panama.

Late in the first half, Mexico found its way on the scoreboard on Edson Alvarez’s header off of a corner kick, taking a 1-0 lead into halftime.

On the other side of the break, it turned into a goal-fest. Raul Jiménez scored, assisted by his forward partner Santiago Giménez for a 2-0 lead.

Dominican Republic, which is making its first appearance in the Gold Cup, cut the deficit in half on Peter Gonzalez’s goal in the 51st minute. Two minutes later, Alvarez headed the ball towards the net, and it ricocheted into the back of the net off teammate César Montes, restoring Mexico’s two-goal lead, 3-1.

Alvarez, earlier in the week, posted a message of solidarity with the people who have been impacted by the ongoing immigration raids.

“I want to send a message of respect and solidarity to all the Latino families in Los Angeles who are facing difficult times today, especially to my Mexican family. I admire your courage, your work, and your love for moving forward. We are with you. Don’t lose faith.”

The two-goal lead didn’t last the rest of the night. In the 67th minute, former Inter Miami Homegrown Player Edison Azcona gave Dominican Republic a second goal, making things interesting for the rest of the night.

Goalkeeper Xavier Valdez was pressed into action early in the game and stood up to the challenge, highlighted by a diving, one-handed save on a powerful shot by Jiménez from just inside the 18-yard box.

The first goal by Alvarez, right before halftime, sent Dominican Republic into halftime a bit unlucky.

Friday, Aguirre said he’s noticed the strides and improvements that Dominican Republic has taken in soccer.

“We can’t underestimate anyone,” he said. “We’ve seen a lot of the work that is key for the Dominican Republic. A lot of scouting to attract a deeper pool. When you used to think about the Dominican Republic, you would only think baseball, but not anymore.”

The Dominican Republic qualified by going a perfect 6-0 in the CONCACAF Nations League B.

Group A continues Wednesday in Arlington, Texas, at AT&T Stadium with the Dominican Republic facing Costa Rica (4 p.m.) and Mexico meeting Suriname (7 p.m.). Group stage play will conclude June 22 with the Dominican Republic facing Suriname, still in Texas and Mexico taking on Costa Rica at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.