USMNT's Road to Glory: Who They Could Face and Where They'll Battle in the 2026 World Cup
The United States stands as one of three countries co-hosting the largest FIFA World Cup tournament in history, with growing anticipation surrounding Mauricio Pochettino's team playing on their home turf.
The Argentine manager's tenure has been somewhat mixed, though improved performances toward the close of 2025 suggest progress despite missing several key players, as Pochettino's significant tactical switch to a three-defender formation has yielded positive results.
The 1994 World Cup in America helped launch Major League Soccer (MLS), and with soccer's popularity rising ahead of the 2026 tournament, the potential long-term impact on American soccer could be even more substantial following this World Cup.
Success will largely hinge on how far the USMNT advances. While the co-hosts aren't expected to genuinely challenge for the title, a performance matching their 2002 run to the quarterfinals in Asia would be considered exceptional.
Many details regarding group opponents and tournament paths remain undetermined, but here's the current information about the USMNT's 2026 World Cup schedule.
When Does the USMNT's 2026 World Cup Campaign Start?
The United States joins two other North American countries as tournament hosts. Their opening match takes place on Saturday, June 12. Mexico kicks off the 2026 World Cup one day earlier, while Canada begins their group stage matches on the same date as the Americans.
A week separates the USMNT's Group D opener at the spectacular SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, from their second tournament match on June 19 at Seattle's Lumen Field—a venue famous for its electric atmosphere.
Mauricio Pochettino's squad will stay on the West Coast for all group stage matches. They return to SoFi for their final group game on June 25.
USMNT 2026 World Cup Fixtures & Results
Date | Fixture | Stadium |
|---|---|---|
June 12 | USMNT vs. D2 | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
June 19 | USMNT vs. D3 | Lumen Field, Seattle |
June 25 | D4 vs. USMNT | SoFi Stadium, Inglewood |
USMNT Potential Group Stage Opponents
When the 2026 World Cup draw occurs on December 5 at Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center, 42 of the 48 participating teams will be confirmed. The remaining spots will be determined through March 2026 playoffs.
As a host nation, the USMNT received placement in Pot 1, which includes the nine top-ranked countries—according to FIFA rankings—that qualified for the tournament. Pochettino's team will therefore dodge several powerhouses, including France, Spain, England, Brazil and Argentina.
They will face one opponent each from Pots 2, 3 and 4. Currently, the pot assignments are still projected. According to Football Ranks on X, Croatia and Morocco represent the strongest potential Pot 2 opponents. Colombia and Uruguay are also included, along with Senegal and South Korea.
Pot 3 features Ecuador and Norway prominently, both having impressive qualifying performances.
Pot 4 contains numerous lower-ranked newcomers, including Uzbekistan, Cape Verde and Jordan. Ghana currently stands as the most experienced World Cup participant from the lowest-seeded pot.
The USMNT cannot draw teams from their same confederation (Concacaf).
Where Will the USMNT Play During World Cup Knockout Stages?
The USMNT will operate from the West Coast during group play, and they'll stay western if they capture Group D. However, they've only topped their group once (2010) in World Cup history.
Should they achieve an unlikely group victory, Pochettino's team will contest their round of 32 match in Santa Clara, California, at Levi's Stadium against one of five possible best third-place teams.
Entering that bracket section means remaining on the West Coast through the semifinals.
A runner-up finish sends them to Arlington, Texas, for their initial knockout match against Group G's second-place team. Victory there means traveling across the country. The USMNT's possible round of 16 and semifinal matches would occur in Atlanta, Georgia, with their quarterfinal in Kansas City, Missouri.
If the USMNT advances as a third-place qualifier, their round of 32 match will take place in Foxborough, Massachusetts, East Rutherford, New Jersey, or Kansas City.