2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup Groups Set: USA to Face Paraguay, Australia, and Playoff Winner
The full group stage matchups for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup have been revealed, with the United States men’s national team (USMNT) learning its path in the tournament it will co-host with Canada and Mexico.
At Friday’s draw held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the USMNT was placed in Group C alongside Paraguay, Australia, and the winner of UEFA Playoff Path C, which will be decided in March 2026. The playoff matchup features Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, and Kosovo, meaning the U.S. will face one of those four European nations in its final group stage match.
USMNT’s 2026 World Cup Group Stage Schedule
As co-hosts and a Pot 1 team, the U.S. avoided the reigning world champions and other top-ranked sides in the group stage. All three of the Americans’ group matches will be played on home soil:
- June 12, 2026: USA vs. Paraguay – SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
- June 19, 2026: USA vs. Australia – Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
- June 25, 2026: UEFA Playoff Winner C vs. USA – Location TBA (likely in the U.S.)
The U.S. will open the tournament at SoFi Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Rams and Chargers, before heading north to Seattle for the clash with Australia. The final group match will be played on June 25, with the venue still to be confirmed but expected to be in the United States.
Path to the Knockouts
Group C is considered manageable for the USMNT, which enters the tournament ranked 14th in the FIFA World Rankings. Paraguay, a traditional South American side with a strong defensive identity, and Australia, a physical and experienced team with a history of World Cup appearances, will provide early tests. The third opponent, from the UEFA playoffs, will be determined after the March 2026 international window.
Manager Mauricio Pochettino, who took over the USMNT in 2025, will look to build on a strong finish to 2025, during which the team went five games unbeaten. With home-field advantage and a favorable group, the U.S. aims to advance to the knockout rounds and potentially make a deep run in the expanded 48-team tournament.
2026 World Cup Format and Hosts
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams, divided into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group, plus the eight best third-place finishers, will advance to a 32-team knockout stage.
Matches will be played across 16 cities in three countries: 11 in the United States, three in Mexico, and two in Canada. The final is scheduled for July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Possible ‘Group of Death’
While Group C appears relatively balanced, several other groups have drawn attention as potential “Groups of Death.” Among them is Group G, which features reigning champions Argentina, alongside the Netherlands, Austria, and the winner of UEFA Playoff Path A (Croatia, Ukraine, Iceland, or Bosnia and Herzegovina).
Other tough groups include Group E, with Spain, Colombia, and two playoff winners, and Group H, which includes Brazil, Portugal, and two more playoff qualifiers. These matchups could set up blockbuster knockout round clashes if the favorites advance.
What’s Next for the USMNT?
With the group stage schedule now set, the USMNT will focus on finalizing its roster, building cohesion under Pochettino, and preparing for the expanded tournament format. The team will also monitor the UEFA playoffs closely, as the identity of its third opponent will shape its final preparation plans.
For American fans, the 2026 World Cup represents a historic opportunity: the first time the U.S. will host the men’s tournament since 1994, and a chance to see the USMNT compete for glory on home soil.