We’re getting excited about the 2026 World Cup and seeing the U.S. men’s national team take on the best teams from across the globe. Next summer’s edition of soccer’s marquee event will include 48 teams (the biggest field ever) and will be co-hosted by three countries: the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
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The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The FOX family of networks and the FOX Sports app are your complete home for World Cup content, including live matches, complete highlights, commentary and analysis, and full-match replays.
All eyes will be on Christian Pulisic, the 27-year-old winger who plays at Italian powerhouse AC Milan. Pulisic has also previously played at Chelsea (where he won a Champions League trophy) and German club Borussia Dortmund. He is currently the active leading scorer for the U.S. men’s national team with 32 goals (and fifth all-time). He scored once at the 2022 World Cup.
Other players to watch are midfielders Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams. Both are also veterans of the 2022 World Cup and are expected to help both defend and distribute the ball from their positions. McKennie plays at Italian club Juventus, while Adams is at English side AFC Bournemouth.
Chris Richards, who has emerged as a solid center-back for English club Crystal Palace, is turning into the Americans’ best defender. As for goalkeeper, Matt Freese is favorite to be the starter after breaking out with both the USMNT and MLS club NYCFC.
(Photo by John Dorton/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images)
Mauricio Pochettino was hired in Sept. 2024, replacing Gregg Berhalter as the man in charge. A native of Argentina who played at the World Cup for his country in 2002, Pochettino has coached for some notable clubs in Europe. His first managerial job was at Spanish club Espanyol (where he had been a player) before moving to England and taking over at Southampton. He then led Tottenham Hotspur to the 2019 Champions League final (losing to Liverpool) before taking on the job at Paris Saint-Germain for two years. At PSG (another club he had played for), he won the French Ligue 1 title. He also had a one-season stint at Chelsea. With the USMNT, Pochettino has a record of 13 wins, 7 losses, and two draws.
The USMNT will know their three group-stage opponents on Dec. 5 when the World Cup draw happens in Washington, D.C., at the Kennedy Center. The team does know its group already (Group D). This was to ensure that, as co-hosts of the tournament, the U.S. would play all three of its matches in the country.
The three group stage games will be as follows:
June 12 vs. TBD — at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles
June 19 vs. TBD — at Lumen Field in Seattle
June 25 vs. TBD — at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles
(Photo by Mike Stobe – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
