Paris Olympics kicks off with soccer match between Spain and Argentina

PARIS (AP) — The Paris Olympics soccer tournament officially got underway in Paris and St. Etienne on Wednesday with Spain’s players kicking off their match against Argentina.

Spain faced Uzbekistan at the Parc des Princes in western Paris, which was once home to France striker Kylian Mbappe when he played for Paris Saint-Germain.

Kick-off honors went to Uzbekistan captain Eldor Shomurodov, who played for Italian side Cagliari last season and had scored 40 goals for Uzbekistan before this game. The 29-year-old Shomurodov passed the ball back to his teammates and then applauded. FIFA president Gianni Infantino met with the players before the game.

In the 29th minute, Spanish right back Marc Pubill scored the first goal.

Argentina will be without Messi for this tournament but they also face Morocco at 3pm at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne, nicknamed Le Chaudron (The Cauldron) because of the fiery atmosphere created by the passionate supporters of the local club.

Moroccan and Argentine fans mingled outside, with two Argentine fans holding a banner with a picture of late star Diego Maradona and the words “El Pibe de Oro” (The Golden Boy) – the fans’ nickname for the 1986 World Cup winner.

There was also a festive mood on the streets leading to the Parc des Princes, near the Olympic tennis venue Roland Garros, home of the French Open.

Around 150 Uzbek fans gathered outside the Porte d’Auteuil metro station and, with a small police escort, they waved flags, sang and banged drums as they made their way towards the stadium. The Uzbek fans, who sat on the upper level of the Boulogne section, close to the goal, made the loudest noise – and they began chanting louder after Poubyl made a close-range save at the other end to put Spain ahead.

Amid ongoing tensions in Gaza, security will be significantly stepped up outside the same stadium where Israel faces Mali in a Group D clash on Wednesday night.

Eight football matches are scheduled for Wednesday, two days before the opening ceremony. There are also 12 rugby sevens matches on Wednesday, starting at 3:30pm when Australia takes on Samoa at the national stadium, the Stade de France. Hosts France will then face the United States there. Archery and handball competitions will also begin before the opening ceremony, with preliminaries on Thursday.