The road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is no longer a mystery for the United States. After the tournament draw finalized the groups and match calendar, the USMNT now knows exactly where its journey on home soil will begin.
With matches scheduled in LA and Seattle, the tournament will place the Stars and Stripes under a spotlight unlike anything the program has experienced since 1994. The USA was placed in Group D alongside Paraguay, Australia and Turkiye.
Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and a new generation of American stars are expected to carry the pressure of a country eager for a breakthrough, while massive venues like SoFi Stadium prepare for some of the loudest soccer nights.
Which group is the USMNT in for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
The United States was drawn into Group D for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Paraguay, Australia and Turkiye. As one of the tournament’s co-hosts, the US automatically qualified and was placed in Pot 1 during the official FIFA draw.
Tim Ream #13 of the United States looks on during an International Friendly (Source: Vincent Carchietta/Getty Images)
The group is considered competitive but manageable for Mauricio Pochettino’s squad, especially compared to some of the tournament’s tougher draws. Paraguay bring World Cup experience and physicality, Australia remain one of Asia’s most disciplined teams, while Turkiye enter the competition after an impressive qualifying campaign.
With the expanded 48-team format, the top two teams from each group — plus the eight best third-place finishers overall — will advance to the Round of 32, meaning every point could become crucial throughout the group stage.
When will the USMNT play at the 2026 World Cup?
The USMNT will begin its 2026 World Cup campaign on June 12 in Los Angeles. The team’s second match is scheduled for June 19 in Seattle, before returning to Los Angeles on June 25 for the final group-stage game.
USMNT 2026 World Cup group-stage schedule:
- June 12, 2026 — USMNT vs. Paraguay
- June 19, 2026 — USMNT vs. Australia
- June 25, 2026 — USMNT vs. Turkiye
The tournament itself runs from June 11 through July 19, 2026, making it the longest and largest World Cup in FIFA history with 104 matches across North America.
Where will the USMNT play its World Cup matches?
The United States will play its group-stage matches in two cities: Los Angeles and Seattle. SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, will host both the opener against Paraguay and the final group-stage match against Turkiye, while Lumen Field in Seattle hosts the matchup against Australia.
SoFi Stadium is expected to become one of the centerpiece venues of the tournament, hosting eight matches overall, including knockout-stage fixtures and the USMNT opener. Meanwhile, Seattle’s Lumen Field has long been recognized as one of the loudest soccer environments.
The USMNT also selected Irvine, California, as its official training base during the tournament because of its proximity to Los Angeles and its high-performance facilities.
What happens if the USMNT advances from the group stage?
If the United States advances from Group D, the knockout-stage path will depend on whether the team finishes first, second or qualifies as one of the best third-place teams. FIFA’s expanded format introduces a new Round of 32, increasing the number of knockout matches compared to previous tournaments.
According to the current bracket projections, a first-place finish in Group D could keep the USMNT on the West Coast for the early knockout rounds, including potential matches in San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles. Finishing second would likely send the team toward Dallas and Atlanta instead.
The World Cup Final will take place on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where FIFA is also planning the first-ever halftime show featuring Madonna, Shakira and BTS.
