USMNT opponents at 2026 World Cup; Schedule, locations, history, outlook
Mauricio Pochettino learned his first ever World Cup group opponents as a coach on Friday when the World Cup draw takes center stage in Washington, D.C. and he will be very happy with it.
Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT know who they will face during the group stage of the 2026 World Cup — now less than 100 days from kicking off in North America. And it was a very favorable draw for the USMNT. MORE — Winners and losers of the 2026 World Cup draw The Yanks are hosting the tournament along with neighbors Mexico and Canada, and will be the top seed in Group D for what they are hope are just the first three matches of their tournament.
Who will they play? Who is the USMNT’s first World Cup opponent? Group D, first match When: June 12, 2026 Where: SoFi Stadium in Inglewood California Opponent: Paraguay (Pot 3 team) They say it's difficult to beat the same opponent twice, but the USMNT will be happy enough to try with a Paraguay side they toppled 2-1 on November 15 .
Oh, and they managed to do it with a shorthanded team in a performance that featured statements from Tanner Tessmann and Gio Reyna . Who will be the USMNT’s toughest opponent? Group D, second match When: June 19, 2026 Where: Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington Opponent: Australia (Pot 2 team) Australia was good draw for the USMNT when it comes to their Pot 2 options, especially considering Mauricio Pochettino's men beat the Socceroos on American soil just a month and a half ago .
Who will the USMNT play in the group stage finale? Group D, third match When: June 25, 2026 Where: SoFi Stadium in Inglewood California Opponent: UEFA playoff winner 3 (Slovakia, Kosovo, Turkiye, or Romania) (Pot 4 team) Who could the USMNT play if they win Group D? This is a huge deal, because winning Group D means not facing a group runner-up and instead meeting a third-place team.