The USMNT will play Australia and Paraguay in Group D, as well as third opponent from Europe that will be determined in March

The U.S. men’s national team will face Paraguay in their first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 12.

And the requirement of a European team in each group denied the U.S. the chance to have beloved minnow Cape Verde in its group. The U.S. avoided some of the European teams looming as potential threats; Italy, Denmark, and Ukraine would head elsewhere.

Argentina and Lionel Messi will play Algeria to open its World Cup title defense as part of a group that also includes Austria

As a host nation, the Stars and Stripes were pre-drawn into Group D at the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The USMNT waited anxiously to find out its first three opponents in next summer’s tournament and no doubt exhaled a sigh of relief after the draw concluded.

T he Draw for the 2026 World Cup was unveiled Friday in Washington, DC. The field for the 2026 World Cup is bigger than ever. For the first time, the field is now 48 teams (formerly 32 teams). Those 48 will play matches across the United States,

The 2026 World Cup will feature 104 matches played in the host nations of the United States, Mexico and Canada. Here's a look at the odds, schedule and locations for the 2026 event. There are several major contenders to emerge victorious in the 2026 World Cup including Brazil,