The USA national team is back in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after reaching the knockout rounds in Qatar three years ago, but Mauricio Pochettino and his soccer team will be hoping to make a deeper run this time around on home soil in the first-ever expanded tournament that features 48 countries from around

The 2026 FIFA World Cup groups are settled, and playoff games in March will determine the final slots. President Donald Trump was awarded a peace prize.

Next summer's event will be the first ever 48-team World Cup, with those nations being broken up into 12 groups of four. From there, 104 matches will be played at 16 venues across the U.S., Canada and Mexico to determine a World Cup champion.

Follow the World Cup draw with live updates and find out who the USMNT and soccer's best will be facing during the 2026 tournament. The expanded 2026 World Cup will be the biggest in history featuring 48 countries – up from 32 – battling for soccer's ultimate prize in North America.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will begin on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico, with a matchup between host nation Mexico and Group A challenger South Africa. In 2010, South Africa became the first African nation to host a World Cup.

The 2026 World Cup draw took place in Washington DC on Friday and we had you covered for everything as it happened.

This World Cup is going to be defined by its pageantry and the sheer amount of top-tier celebrities on show. Friday's draw already flaunted Shaq, Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge and Lauryn Hill; all legends in their fields. The legendary footballers almost seemed like the sideshow at one point.

With the majority of the field confirmed, the 2026 FIFA World Cup Draw will set the matchups for the global soccer tournament.

Brady was assisted in the drawing of the pots alongside NHL Hall of Famer and four-time Stanley Cup champion Wayne Gretzky, seven-time MLB All-Star Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and four-time NBA champion and Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal.

FIFA narrowed down the list of possible teams that will play 2026 World Cup matches in Houston with the Friday draw. Now it's time to learn the schedule.

Brazil was drawn in Group C — which will play two of its matches in Boston. France is in Group I, which also plays two matches in Boston.