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.
But there are some questions we want answered. Who could be the team’s opponents? Could it possibly get roped into a Group of Death? How could Christian Pulisic and Co. reach the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium? We have you covered.
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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.
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.
There are several ways to look at this. Would it be FIFA’s latest world rankings? By history of the USMNT’s opponents at previous World Cup opponents? By the dark horse candidates? Let’s start off first with the pots.
First off, the rules. Each World Cup group will have one team from the four pots established by FIFA ahead of the Dec. 5. With the USMNT in Pot 1, they’ll have one opponent from Pots 2, 3, & 4. Also, teams from the same qualification zone — except for the European confederation (UEFA) — cannot be drawn into the same group. So don’t expect two South American teams (CONMEBOL), for example, in the same group. However, there could be up to two UEFA teams in one.
These pots were determined by FIFA’s latest world rankings. Here’s the latest order:
So, if you take the top ranked team from each of the other pots, you get:
USMNT’s Group of Death (by FIFA rankings)
Croatia, Norway, Jordan: That includes a Croatian side that features veteran midfielder Luka Modrić (who helped his country reach the 2018 final and the 2022 semifinals). And then there’s Norway with superstar striker Erling Haaland, who’ll finally be making his first World Cup appearance with a tough Norweigan side. The weakest of this foursome would be Jordan, which will be making its World Cup debut.
USMNT’s Group of Death (if Italy qualifies)
Croatia, Egypt, Italy: Ah, yes. Four-time World Cup champions Italy. The team that hasn’t directly qualified for the World Cup since 2014. And if they want to reach the 2026 tournament, it’ll have to do it by clinching one of the four pending European spots in March via the UEFA playoffs. If Italy does that, they’ll be the most dangerous team in Pot 4. So the USMNT could have a group that includes Croatia and Italy (remember, only two European teams per group) and an Egyptian side that features superstar forward Mohamed Salah.
USMNT’s Group of Death scenarios with top teams
Morocco, Norway, Italy: Morocco ranks behind Croatia in the ranks, but make no mistake. Morocco is a talented and deep squad that reached the semifinals in 2022. Along with Norway and potentially Italy, this would be a nightmare group for the USMNT. Add the fact that Morocco has eliminated the U.S. in two junior World Cup tournaments in 2025 (the Under-17 and the Under-23 editions).
Uruguay, Norway, Ghana: Whether Italy qualifies through Pot 4 or not, there is another familiar foe that would worry USMNT fans. Ghana, which struggled in African qualifying, always seems to be a tough opponent at the World Cup. The U.S. has already played Ghana at three separate World Cups, most notably losing to them in the Round of 16 at the 2010 World Cup.
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)
With their group-stage dates known (even without opponents), we can map out the USMNT’s road to the final. There are in total five scenarios for the team to reach the final.
If the USMNT wins Group D:
Round of 32 match – July 1 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (San Francisco Bay Area)
Round of 16 match – July 6 at Lumen Stadium in Seattle
Quarterfinals match – July 10 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles
Semifinals match – July 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (Dallas Area)
Final – July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York City Area)
If the USMNT finishes second in Group D:
Round of 32 match – July 3 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (Dallas Area)
Round of 16 match — July 7 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
Quarterfinals match – July 11 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
Semifinals match – July 15 at Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
Final – July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York City Area)
Only if the USMNT doesn’t finish first or second in Group D and instead reaches the knockout stage as one of the eight best third-place teams. So it’s a tricky road. But here are the scenarios for seeing the USMNT play on Independence Day in Philadelphia.
Scenario 1
Round of 32 match — June 29 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. (Boston Area)
Round of 16 match — July 4 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia
Quarterfinals match – July 9 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. (Boston Area)
Semifinals match – July 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (Dallas Area)
Final – July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York City Area)
Scenario 2
Round of 32 match — June 30 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York City Area)
Round of 16 match — July 4 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia
Quarterfinals match – July 9 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. (Boston Area)
Semifinals match – July 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (Dallas Area)
Final – July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York City Area)
Scenario 3
This scenario doesn’t have them playing on July 4 but still advancing as a third-place team:
Round of 32 match — July 3 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
Round of 16 match — July 7 at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada
Quarterfinals match – July 11 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
Semifinals match – July 15 at Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta
Final – July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York City Area)
The USMNT has appeared 11 FIFA World Cups, qualifying in 1930, 1934, 1950, 1990, 1994 (hosts), 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2022. The 2026 edition will be their 12th appearance and the second they host the event (this one alongside Canada and Mexico).
The USMNT’s best-ever finish came in the inaugural 1930 World Cup in Uruguay, where they reached the semifinals. Since no third-place match was held that year, FIFA officially lists the United States as finishing in third place.
In the modern era, the team’s most notable run occurred in 2002 when they reached the quarterfinals. The U.S. defeated Portugal in the group stage and beat Mexico 2–0 in the Round of 16 before narrowly falling 1–0 to Germany in a match remembered for a missed handball call.
