Led by manager Mauricio Pochettino, the USMNT will open the tournament against Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12, before facing Australia on June 19 in Seattle. After their quick foray to the Pacific Northwest, they will return to Los Angeles to face one of Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo from the UEFA Playoff Path.

Mauricio Pochettino and the USMNT now know how their World Cup campaign is going to look. Friday’s draw at Washington DC’s Kennedy Center has given the US high hopes of starting

And the requirement of a European team in each group denied the U.S. the chance to have beloved minnow Cape Verde in its group. The U.S. avoided some of the European teams looming as potential threats; Italy, Denmark, and Ukraine would head elsewhere.

The USMNT kick off their 2026 World Cup campaign against Paraguay in front of a home crowd in California. The Stars and Stripes will feel confident going against the CONMBEOL side given they just defeated Gustavo Alfaro’s men 2–1 in an international friendly during the November window.