U.S. couldn’t have asked for a more favorable 2026 World Cup draw
WASHINGTON- Friday’s World Cup draw couldn’t have gone better for US coach Mauricio Pochettino. In a two-hour ceremony at the Kennedy Center, the Americans were grouped with Paraguay and Australia, teams they have beaten over the past two months, as well as the winner of the European qualifiers featuring Turkey, Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo.
“We have already done our homework because it is fresh,” Pochettino said. “We know them but they know us. The most important thing is to evolve and improve in all areas so that we are sure that when we start we will be stronger than today.
“I was looking forward to the World Cup. We start today.”
Next summer’s tournament, which begins June 11 in Mexico City with Mexico facing South Africa, will be the largest and most complex single-sport competition in history, with 48 teams playing 104 matches in three countries before the July 19 final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
It will also be the first World Cup hosted in the United States in 32 years. And for gamers, that means everything.
“You couldn’t ask for anything better. This is what we dreamed of when we were kids,” said striker Christian Pulisic. “It’s important to approach this with the mentality that we’re just going to enjoy it. We’re going to try to enjoy the whole experience.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The United States is ranked 14th in the world; Among the other six teams in their group, only Turkey is in the top 25. This would seem to make the path to the round of 16 a little easier.
The Americans will open the tournament against No. 39 Paraguay at SoFi Stadium on June 12, then face Australia in Seattle on June 19 before returning to Inglewood to close out group play against the playoff winner on June 25. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups of four teams, plus the top eight third-placed teams, advance to the second round.
If the U.S. wins the group, it would stay in California to face a third-ranked team in Santa Clara, which would take it to Seattle for the round of 16 and then back to SoFi Stadium for the quarterfinals, a stage the U.S. has reached just once in the modern era.
Midfielder Tyler Adams said no one has planned this trip yet.
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Kevin Baxter shares his thoughts on the USA’s journey through the 2026 World Cup and which teams might have the toughest journey in the group stage.
“There is no easy match in the World Cup,” he said. “Actually, I think some of our toughest games in the previous World Cup were against lesser opponents. But it’s fun to know that we’ve played some of these opponents before.”
Finishing second would see the team play their first knockout match in Dallas and, if they win it, head to Atlanta for the round of 16.
“I’m sure you would expect the United States to be the favorites,” said Tony Popovic, coach of 26th-ranked Australia. “They expect to qualify as hosts, playing at home. If that’s the case, I’m happy for them, provided we are with them and join them.”
Pochettino, however, said he would not be distracted by talk of the squad because hoping to win and winning are two different things.
“To the people who say ‘you have to win’ before you even play, no,” he said in Spanish. “In football, you don’t win on the bus. You win when you win it on the field.
“That’s why we have to show a lot of respect – total respect – to our adversaries.”
Group of Death? More like Group of slightly uncomfortable
France, the 2022 World Cup finalists, will play in arguably the toughest group in the 2026 World Cup.
(Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
If the United States obtained a favorable draw, the same cannot be said of France, which was grouped with Senegal, Norway (and Erling Haaland) and survivor of the interconfederation qualifiers between Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq. It’s not quite a group of death, but it’s probably the most competitive quartet to emerge from Friday’s draw.
Other strong groups include Group C, dominated by five-time champions Brazil and Morocco, semi-finalists four years ago, and Group H, with tournament favorites Spain and Uruguay, who have reached the quarter-finals of two of the last four World Cups.
Defending champions Argentina will play in Group J against Algeria, Austria and Jordan, none of whom are ranked among the world’s top 23.
With eight third-ranked teams advancing to the round of 16 for the first time in World Cup history, the margin for error in the first round has never been greater, meaning teams will have the chance to overcome a bad game – or even two – and continue to advance.
There’s no place like home for Mexico
Mexico reached the quarterfinals of the first two World Cups played in Mexico, a story that coach Javier Aguirre knows well since the last time it happened, in 1986, Aguirre started in midfield in El Tri’s last match.
So, with the tournament returning to Mexico next summer, Aguirre hopes to get the team back to the final eight.
“When we play at home we are very excited,” the coach said in Spanish.
But before reaching the quarterfinals, Mexico will have to go through a group including South Africa, South Korea and the winner of the European qualifiers including Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic or Ireland.
“It’s not an easy group,” said Aguirre, whose team finished the year without a win in its last six tries. “These are interesting matches, with many different styles and we will prepare ourselves to face them.
“We can’t underestimate anyone.”
Winning the group would give Mexico the chance to play its first two knockout matches at home before traveling to South Florida for the quarterfinals. Finishing second would put him on track to travel to Los Angeles and then Houston – both heavily Mexican markets – for his next two games. On this track, his quarterfinal would take place in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
South Korea, led by LAFC forward Son Heung-min, has qualified for 11 consecutive World Cups, a streak bested only by Germany, Brazil, Spain and Argentina. South Africa last participated in the tournament in 2010, when it hosted the event.
Trump receives the peace prize
FIFA President Gianni Infantino presents President Trump with the new FIFA Peace Prize before the start of the World Cup draw on Friday.
(Stephanie Scarbrough / Associated Press)
Before Friday’s draw began, FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented President Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, a move many interpreted as a move by Infantino to curry favor with Trump, whose cooperation will be key to the success of the World Cup.
Infantino, who announced the creation of the annual award last month, praised Trump’s actions “to seek world peace,” including his work to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.
“That’s what we expect from a leader, a leader who cares about the people,” he said. “We want to live in a safe world. That’s what we’re doing here today. That’s what we’re doing at the World Cup, Mr President. And you certainly deserve the first FIFA Peace Prize for your action, for what you have achieved in your own way.”
Trump thanked Infantino, calling the award “one of the great honors of my life.”
Give them a break
Record heat and humidity blighted the FIFA Club World Cup last summer, with temperatures topping 90 degrees during many afternoon matches, hampering play and leaving some players in distress. As a result, FIFPRO, the union representing players, has called for a better schedule and more hydration breaks for the World Cup – and FIFA appears to be listening.
World Cup organizers are reportedly considering imposing water breaks during both halves of each match, even for matches played indoors.
