The United States was placed in Group D for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Paraguay, Australia and the winner of the UEFA European playoff Path C during the final draw held in Miami on December 13, 2024.[1][2]
The 48-team tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19, 2026, features 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-placed sides will advance to the round of 32.[1]
UEFA Path C pits Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo and Romania in a playoff scheduled for March 2025, with semifinals on March 20-21 and finals on March 23-24.[2][3]
The U.S. men's national team, automatically qualified as co-host, opens its group against Paraguay on June 12, 2026, at Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida.[1][4]
U.S. soccer legend Landon Donovan, who made 157 appearances and scored 57 international goals -- tied for the national team record with Clint Dempsey -- said he expects the Americans to top the group.[5][6]
"The assumption for all of us is that we will get out of the group stage, and, in fact, I think we should win our group. I think that is a realistic target for this team," Donovan told Fox News Digital.[7]
Donovan praised Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie, who is in his sixth season with the Serie A club and has been a regular starter.[8]
The U.S. team finished third in its 2022 World Cup group with three points from draws against Wales and England and a loss to Iran.[9]
Sources
- FIFA, "FIFA World Cup 2026™ Final Draw", December 13, 2024, https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/draw
- UEFA, "European Qualifiers for 2026 FIFA World Cup - Play-offs", November 19, 2024, https://www.uefa.com/europeanqualifiers/news/0292-1c4e1b8f3689-0b0e4d6b5a0a-1000--european-qualifiers-for-2026-world-cup-play-off-draw/
- FIFA, "2026 FIFA World Cup European play-off draw", November 19, 2024, https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/articles/european-playoff-draw-2026-world-cup
- FIFA, "FIFA World Cup 2026™ match schedule", June 18, 2024 (updated post-draw), https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/mens/worldcup/canadamexicousa2026/matchcentre
- US Soccer, "USMNT Career Caps Leaders", accessed January 2025, https://www.ussoccer.com/usmnt-history-records
- US Soccer, "USMNT All-Time Goalscorers", accessed January 2025, https://www.ussoccer.com/usmnt-history-records
- Fox News Digital, "Landon Donovan on USMNT World Cup expectations", December 2024, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/landon-donovan-team-usa-world-cup-expectations
- Juventus FC, "Weston McKennie player profile", accessed January 2025, https://www.juventus.com/en/teams/first-team/squad/weston-mckennie
- FIFA, "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ - Group B", December 2022, https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/qatar2022/groups
