Who Could Face Team USA When the 2026 World Cup Draw Unfolds?

Excitement is mounting and tension is rising as Friday's 2026 FIFA World Cup draw approaches, where the USMNT will learn who their three group stage adversaries will be.

Although they're already confirmed for Group D, Mauricio Pochettino's squad remains in the dark about their opponents on American territory. They'll be hoping for a kind draw, though the prospect of landing in a challenging 'Group of Death' looms large.

The USMNT sits in Pot 1 due to their hosting privileges and should theoretically receive a more manageable path to the round of 16. Nevertheless, some formidable challengers could still await them.

Below are their possible group stage matchups for the World Cup.

How Will the 2026 World Cup Draw Work for the USMNT?

Being positioned in Pot 1, the USMNT knows they'll meet one team from each of the remaining three pots in the group phase. They'll dodge any nations from their own pot, including powerhouses like Spain, France, Argentina, Brazil and England.

They'll encounter teams from Pots 2, 3 and 4 but cannot face any other CONCACAF nation. This means avoiding fellow co-hosts Mexico and Canada—both already in Pot 1—plus Panama, Haiti, Curaçao, Jamaica and Suriname—the final two still needing to qualify through March's inter-confederation playoffs.

The USMNT cannot be matched against any playoff participants, eliminating potential meetings with Jamaica and Suriname, as well as Bolivia, Iraq, New Caledonia and DR Congo.

Potential World Cup Group Stage Opponents for the USMNT

Pot 2

Pot 3

Pot 4

*Successful playoff teams will only be confirmed in March 2026

Most Favorable World Cup Draw for the USMNT

Pochettino and his squad will be praying for the most lenient group possible to prevent an early tournament departure.

From Pot 2, Australia would represent their weakest opponent according to FIFA rankings, though each group requires at least one UEFA representative. This makes Austria, ranked 24th globally, the preferred Pot 2 matchup for the USMNT.

South Africa, who hosted the 2010 World Cup, represents the lowest-ranked Pot 3 team. The world's 61st-ranked national team has suffered defeat in all three previous encounters with the USMNT.

Among nations participating in next year's playoffs, all placed in Pot 4, OFC underdogs New Caledonia rank lowest at 149th globally. However, since the USMNT cannot meet any inter-confederation playoff participants, 86th-ranked New Zealand becomes their weakest possible Pot 4 opponent.

Most Challenging World Cup Draw for the USMNT

Croatia stands as the Pot 2 opponent every team hopes to avoid. Having reached the 2018 final and 2022 semifinal, they possess extensive tournament experience and exceptional talent. Ranked tenth globally, they would typically occupy Pot 1 if only one nation were hosting the 2026 tournament.

Since UEFA is the sole federation allowing two teams per group, drawing Pot 4 playoff contenders Italy would create a nightmare scenario for the USMNT. The Azzurri, who finished runner-up to Norway in qualifying, must overcome Northern Ireland and then either Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina to secure their tournament spot.

While Norway technically represents the strongest Pot 3 nation, three UEFA teams cannot occupy the same group. With Croatia and Italy already in our hypothetical nightmare scenario, Egypt, ranked 34th globally, would become the toughest available Pot 3 adversary.

*Playoff team