The FIFA men’s World Cup is the most popular tournament for the world’s most popular game. The 22nd edition kicks off in Doha, Qatar, on Nov. 20, 2022. You know it’s a big deal, but do you know how the World Cup works?
For fans asking, ‘did the USA get a good group?’ We have great news for you. The United States men’s national team got perhaps the easiest group of the entire tournament.
The three nations set to compete against the USMNT in the 2026 World Cup group stage are Australia, Paraguay and the winner of Turkey/Kosovo/Slovakia/Romania.
USA Group for World Cup
The USA World Cup group opponents will be revealed on Friday as the host nation holds its breath to learn the path to glory… or more so the odds of getting out of the group stage.
The 2026 World Cup draw will take place at noon ET on Friday in Washington D.C.
Here are potential groups (good and bad) the United States men’s national team could be part of for next summer’s tournament.
Quick things to know about the draw.
The expanded 48-team World Cup for 2026 will be the biggest yet and include several newcomers on the world’s premier soccer stage. Here are the countries playing in their first World Cup at the 2026 edition.
For this list we’ll split countries into three different categories.
Let’s meet the new faces.
True newcomers
Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal are making an early trip to Mexico.
The Mexican Football Federation (FMF) is close to finalizing an agreement for Mexico and Portugal to face off in the re-inauguration of the Estadio Azteca on March 28, 2026, marking the stadium’s grand reopening ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Over 1 million tickets sold during the first ticketing window for the 2026 World Cup, announced FIFA on Thursday. Millions of fans who applied for tickets during the Visa Presale Draw weren’t selected and will have to try again for the next window.
So, when might that be?
Next chance to buy World Cup tickets
FIFA and Adidas unveiled the official ball for the 2026 World Cup on Thursday as the Trionda will grace the fields of the United States, Mexico and Canada next summer.
The design features imagery of the three host nations and the ball’s pattern looks similar to the Brazuca ball used in Brazil during the 2014 World Cup.
Trionda 2026 World Cup ball
Ticket sales for the 2026 FIFA World Cup officially began on Wednesday with VISA cardholders able to apply for a chance to purchase tickets. There’s plenty of controversy around the sales process and New York City mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani is taking a firm stand.
One of the chief complaints about FIFA’s World Cup tickets is the “dynamic pricing” set to be implemented. While FIFA were proud to announce that fans could attend group stage games for as low as $60, that number could change based on demand.
Lionel Messi played his final home World Cup qualifier for Argentina on Thursday and dazzled the 85,000+ fans in Buenos Aires with a brace during the 3-0 victory vs. Venezuela. The 38-year-old then caught the attention of fans online with his comments after the game.
When asked about the likelihood of him playing in next summer’s 2026 World Cup and defending Argentina’s world title, Messi said it’s not likely.
Will Messi play in 2026 World Cup?
UPDATE: FIFA announced on Wednesday that starting prices for group stage tickets will be $60. It was also announced that the most expensive ticket for the final will be priced at $6,730.
It's important to note that FIFA will be implementing dynamic pricing, meaning the prices could change based on demand.
Only one week to go before the first phase of @FIFAWorldCup ticket sales open