2026 Men's World Cup Draw Reveals Key Matchups

The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has unveiled the groups and notable matchups. The United States Men's National Team, or USMNT, will kick off their tournament against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

This marks the USMNT's first World Cup appearance on home soil in 32 years. Following Paraguay, the USMNT will face Australia on June 19 in Seattle. ESPN highlights that both Paraguay and Australia are formidable opponents, with Paraguay finishing just outside the top tier in CONMEBOL qualifying, and Australia boasting a robust qualification campaign, losing only once in 16 matches.

The USMNT's final group match will be against the winner of the UEFA playoff, which includes Turkiye, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo, scheduled for June 25 at SoFi Stadium. According to ESPN, Turkiye is the favorite to qualify from the playoffs, and they previously defeated the USMNT in a friendly match.

The USMNT is expected to leverage home advantage and is projected to advance from Group D, potentially facing a third-place team from another group in the knockout stage. Overall, the draw has set the stage for thrilling encounters, as fans eagerly await the tournament next summer.