According to Yahoo Sports, FIFA‘s strict continental rotation rules prohibit confederations from bidding if they hosted either of the previous two tournaments. With 2030 spanning Europe, Africa, and South America, and 2034 awarded to Saudi Arabia, four major continental confederations are immediately sidelined for 2038. That leaves only CONCACAF and Oceania eligible, positioning the American nation as the primary candidate for what might become a 64-team event.

Andrew Joseph of USA Today highlighted how this theoretical pathway virtually guarantees a strong bid, since Oceania lacks the necessary infrastructure. With Australia competing under the Asian confederation, New Zealand simply cannot supply the required stadium capacities for a global competition.

Political pressure and FIFA’s financial engine

President Donald Trump told FOX Sports reporter Jenny Taft that the country would be requesting hosting rights again immediately. Speaking at Trump Tower on July 17, Trump even mentioned that Gianni Infantino had suggested co-hosting with China, though Trump insisted on hosting alone and leaving Canada and Mexico out.

The financial incentive behind another North American tournament makes the ambitious bid equally attractive for the governing body. Entrepreneur and investor Joe Pompliano noted on X that FIFA is making so much money that another hosting stint in 2038 is highly likely. As Pompliano pointed out, all observers have to do is follow the money.

Built-in venues and world-class infrastructure

Unlike most global hosts, the United States does not need to spend tens of billions constructing brand-new athletic venues from scratch. Existing NFL stadiums and multi-purpose arenas already offer state-of-the-art facilities across the entire nation.

American host cities boast incredible open-air and retractable-roof stadiums featuring massive seating capacities and modern fan amenities. Furthermore, major urban hubs are already seamlessly designed around these mega-structures to support high-density traffic and global tourism.

How to watch USA vs China in the USA

Fans in the United States can catch every minute of the action live, with exclusive streaming coverage available on VBTV.

Be sure to tune in and don’t miss a single point from what promises to be an exciting and entertaining showdown.

Can I watch USA vs China for free?

Watch the entire match live in the United States with VBTV, the official streaming platform for the event.

A paid subscription is required, as the service does not offer a free trial, but you can get a annual plan for $6.25/month.

Match Preview: What’s at stake?

The United States enters this matchup riding strong momentum, owning a 6-2 record that trails only unbeaten Japan (8-0) in the tournament standings. Another victory would keep Team USA within striking distance of the top spot as the preliminary round winds down.

China, meanwhile, has struggled to find consistency, sitting at 1-7 and looking to close the opening stage on a more positive note with an upset over one of the tournament’s top contenders.

What time is the USA vs China match?

The match kicks off today, July 15, at 9:00 PM (ET). For viewers in different regions of the United States, here are the local start times:

Eastern Time: 9:00 PM
Central Time: 8:00 PM
Mountain Time: 7:00 PM
Pacific Time: 6:00 PM

Tillman has been a key player for the United States during this World Cup run. Beyond his two free-kick goals, he also picked up an assist during the group stage against Paraguay, setting up Folarin Balogun. Interestingly, Balogun wasn’t even expected to play against Belgium, but FIFA rescinded the red card he had received in the previous match.

The United States roster features plenty of talent capable of finding the back of the net, and Tillman’s recent form puts him right on the heels of his teammate Balogun, who leads the team with three goals so far in the tournament.

Tillman’s USMNT stats

Delivering a strong impact since making his debut in 2022, Tillman, despite his young age, already has six goals for the USMNT across more than 1,600 minutes of play. His breakout year with the national team came in 2025, when he scored three goals during the Gold Cup.

Before the 2026 World Cup kicked off, Tillman also crossed the 30-cap milestone with the national team. However, it’s worth noting that the bulk of his development didn’t happen stateside, he actually grew up and learned the game in Europe.

Where did Tillman develop?

Tillman bypassed the traditional US youth soccer system entirely. He only made two appearances for the US Under-15 team. Instead, the rest of his international youth development, spanning from the U-15 to the U-21 levels, happened with Germany, the country where he was born.

Attendance for this game is projected at 66,925. That means there won’t be a single empty seat in the house, as that is the maximum capacity for Seattle Stadium during World Cup matches. Naturally, the vast majority of the crowd will be rooting for the USMNT, who will have Folarin Balogun available for selection today after FIFA overturned his one-game suspension in a controversial decision.

When the US played its first knockout stage match against Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, it was a completely sold-out crowd of nearly 70,000. Because of that, a slightly smaller venue like Seattle is practically guaranteed to fill up. Both the USA and Belgium will be playing with their away uniforms.

Does Seattle Stadium have the highest capacity in the World Cup?

No. In fact, it’s one of the venues with under 70,000 seats, ranking 10th in capacity among all World Cup stadiums. While it had plenty of packed houses during the group stage, this high-stakes clash between the US and Belgium will be the venue’s final match of the tournament.

How many Belgians live in Seattle?

The Belgian fan presence isn’t expected to match the American crowd, with estimates suggesting well under 10,000 Belgian supporters will be at Seattle Stadium. According to the latest census, only about 1,000 Belgians live in Seattle, though many more are expected to travel in from other states for the game.

Ultimately, local US fans will occupy the vast majority of the seats, which makes sense given the home-field advantage and the stadium’s famous reputation for hosting massive sporting events, particularly in American football.

Ghorbal has refereed just 21 matches in his career, but he was part of the 2022 World Cup crew. In the current 2026 edition, he handled the Scotland-Haiti match, where he handed out four yellow cards in a game disrupted by 44 fouls.

This game offers a rematch of a June 2025 international friendly where Turkiye edged the United States 2-1, a game that saw early goals from Arda Guler and Kerem Akturkoglu before a late physical battle unfolded. Ghorbal will be wearing turqouise today as the USA and Turkiye uniforms are also set.

Mustapha Ghorbal stats ahead of the game

His stats show an official who isn’t afraid to blow the whistle to protect players, but he typically avoids premature red cards, preferring to establish boundaries early using verbal warnings and targeted cautions.

Overall, Ghorbal averages 3.05 yellow cards and 0.1 red cards per match. He is the type of referee who refuses to let violence escalate on the pitch, and he is expected to run a tight ship with both Turkish and American players.

Tactical impact: fighting for control

The USMNT will need to maintain defensive discipline, particularly given their tendency to drop into a tighter, heavy-fouling shape when under pressure. During their previous friendly against Turkyie, late-match frustration resulted in quick yellow cards as they struggled to slow down Turkey’s dynamic counter-attack.

Suzuki has never publicly spoken about why he chose Japan over the US, especially ahead of the 2026 World Cup. However, despite being born in New Jersey, his family decided to move to Japan so he could grow up immersed in his mother’s culture.

Suzuki’s development took off in Japan. While he easily could have chosen to play for the US, or even represented Ghana, his father’s home country, he was already so deeply integrated into the Japanese soccer system. It became obvious he would be yet another overseas-born player to join the Japan squad.

Is Suzuki a good goalkeeper?

The numbers say yes. In his most recent 2025-26 club season in Italy with Parma, he allowed just 28 goals and made 65 saves across 20 games. That amounts to a 71.1% save percentage, marking his highest efficiency rating yet.

Suited up alongside his Japan teammates, who have occasionally worn their famous blue jerseys at the World Cup, he made his tournament debut in a -2-2 draw against the Netherlands. Suzuki recorded 4 saves on 6 shots on target for a 66.7% save percentage, a highly impressive debut on such a massive stage.

Did Suzuki ever play in the US?

No. Suzuki spent his entire youth career in Japan from 2009 to 2020. He started with the Urawa Red Diamonds, the club that gave him his professional debut in 2021. He stayed there until 2024 before moving to his current club, Parma.

He was never involved at any level of US Soccer; his entire path was built with Japan. He climbed through the ranks from his first 7 appearances with the U-15 team, moving up to the U-16, U-17, U-18, and U-23 squads until he earned his first senior international cap with Japan in 2022.

As Paraguay returns to the sport’s biggest stage for the first time since 2010, attention will turn to the pre-match ceremony and the artists chosen to represent the nation’s identity in front of a global audience.

Acclaimed Paraguayan duo Purahei Soul, comprised of Jennifer Hicks Enciso and Miguel Narvaez, will perform the Paraguayan national anthem ahead of La Albirroja’s World Cup debut against the U.S. in Los Angeles.

Who are Purahei Soul?

Purahei Soul is a Paraguayan musical duo made up of Jennifer Hicks Enciso and Miguel Narvaez, known for blending traditional Paraguayan sounds with jazz, blues and contemporary influences.

The duo was formed in 2013 after they met during a jazz seminar while studying at the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Art at the National University of Asuncion. What began as performances of folk songs and jazz standards gradually evolved into a distinctive musical identity rooted in Paraguayan culture.

Their name reflects that philosophy. “Purahei” means “song” in Guarani, Paraguay’s indigenous language, while “Soul” references both the genre’s emotional depth and the Afro-American influences that helped shape their sound.

What songs are Purahei Soul best known for?

Purahei Soul is best known for songs such as “Desapego“, “Mbaraka Love” and tracks from their acclaimed album Swing Guarani. Their music stands out for combining Paraguayan folklore with modern arrangements and socially conscious storytelling.

Released in 2018, Swing Guarani became the project’s breakthrough album and introduced international audiences to the duo’s multilingual approach. The record featured songs performed in Guarani, Spanish and English, showcasing their ability to move between genres without losing their Paraguayan essence.

Was this Purahei Soul’s first FIFA World Cup appearance?

The 2026 FIFA World Cup marked Purahei Soul’s first appearance at an official FIFA World Cup ceremony. There is no record of the duo participating in previous editions of the tournament, making the anthem performance a historic milestone.

FIFA confirmed that Jennifer Hicks Enciso and Miguel Narvaez would perform Paraguay’s national anthem before the match against the United States after weeks of speculation about who would receive the honor.

Their selection was widely celebrated in Paraguay, where supporters viewed the decision as an opportunity to showcase the country’s artistic talent on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages.

But while organizers aimed to create unforgettable memories, fans online quickly found moments they would never let slide. As clips from the ceremony spread across social media, the reactions came just as fast as the action on the field.

Viewers dissected everything from Katy Perry‘s setlist and Future‘s performance to over-the-top theatrics and unexpected celebrity cameos, turning the event into a goldmine for jokes, memes and viral commentary.

Memes and reactions of the World Cup opening ceremony in LA

The ceremony will take place at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium) on June 12, ahead of the USA vs. Paraguay match, marking the final stop of a historic three-country opening celebration across Mexico, Canada and the United States.

Unlike previous World Cups, FIFA has broken tradition by staging three separate opening ceremonies. In America, the lineup is expected to blend pop, hip-hop, Afrobeats and global crossover sounds with LISA, Anitta, Rema and Tyla.

2026 FIFA World Cup USA opening ceremony setlist

The 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony setlist in the United States featured a star-studded lineup led by Tyla and Future, delivering a high-energy mix of global hits and FIFA-curated performances at Los Angeles Stadium.

The ceremony marked a major shift in World Cup entertainment. Alongside Future, the stage also included performances from artists such as LISA, Anitta and Rema, all contributing to the official music campaign.

Rather than relying on a traditional anthem-style performance, the event was structured around a curated setlist built from FIFA’s official World Cup 2026 soundtrack and exclusive live arrangements created specifically for the show.

The songs performed during the ceremony in the United States are:

• Game Time by Future and Tyla
• Goals by LISA ft Anitta and Rema
• Wonder by Katy Perry

While attention quickly shifted to the match itself, the musical kickoff became an immediate talking point across social media and broadcast coverage. It opened with a stadium-filling performance meant to capture the global spirit of the Cup.

Katy Perry, LISA of Blackpink, Future, Tyla, Rema and the Brazilian star Anitta were the artists who took the stage to carry out the most anticipated celebration of the last four years. But, what was the first song that played?

What was the first song of the opening ceremony?

The first song of the opening ceremony before USA vs Paraguay at the 2026 World Cup was the opening musical cue used to launch the United States segment of FIFA’s global halftime-style spectacle: “Game Time” by Future ft Tyla.

The ceremony at Los Angeles Stadium followed FIFA’s multi-host format, where each country staged its own kickoff celebration before its opening match. In the U.S. segment, the production opened with a coordinated audiovisual intro.

Artists such as Katy Perry, Future and Tyla were part of the lineup that shaped the show’s soundtrack-driven structure. The opening moment served as a bridge between the ceremonial FIFA intro visuals and the first live performance on stage.

The 2026 tournament will feature an unprecedented structure, with three separate opening ceremonies across the United States, Mexico and Canada. The U.S. celebration is set to take place at Los Angeles Stadium (SoFi Stadium).

The pre-game show, which will take place before the U.S. Men’s National Team vs Paraguay, is expected to last around 13–16 minutes, although the activities will begin 90 minutes before the opening match in the United States host venue.

Will the 2026 World Cup opening ceremony performers get paid?

There is no official confirmation that Katy Perry, LISA, Future, Tyla, Anitta or Rema will receive performance fees for the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony. However, according to estimates, it appears they will not receive payment.

This is because, in this type of sporting event, artists are compensated through exposure. A very similar situation happens with the Super Bowl, where halftime show headliners do not receive financial compensation.

Katy Perry is the main headliner, so she is expected to perform some of her biggest hits. Without a doubt, the show will be packed with stars, as the stage will also feature Future, LISA, Tyla, Anitta, Rema and DJ Sanjoy.