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?
Travel for the 2026 World Cup could pose a huge headache for some fans as travel bans will impact several teams participating. The number of countries banned from traveling to the World Cup who are also competing in the tournament is currently four.
More specifically — Iran, Ivory Coast, Haiti and Senegal — all have travel bans imposed from the United States.
World Cup travel bans
United States men’s national team fans drew a sigh of relief on Friday as Bournemouth announced that the Tyler Adams injury will see the defensive midfielder sidelined for two or three months.
The 26-year-old American picked up a knee injury early in Bournemouth’s game against Manchester United on Monday and was forced off the field. USMNT fans feared the worst, as an ACL injury would likely mean Adams would be out for this summer’s home World Cup.
While Adams being injured isn’t good news, the severity of the injury is a small consolation.
Every game at next summer’s 2026 World Cup will feature a hydration break near the midway point of the first and second halves, announced FIFA. Even games played at indoor venues like Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium and Arlington’s AT&T Stadium will be stopped for three-minute hydration breaks.
World Cup games will be halted at the 22nd minute mark as well as the 67th minute for players to take a break and hydrate.
World Cup hydration breaks
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 United States men’s national team only have four games left to play until the 2026 World Cup. That’s right, there are just four 2026 USMNT friendlies before the Stars and Stripes take on the planet’s best in the World Cup.
U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino will get to test his players against Europe’s elite next year with top European nations on the schedule.
Here’s a look at who the USMNT will face before the World Cup next summer.
2026 USMNT friendlies
Exact dates are still TBA.
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
Mexico's generational talent also disappeared before our eyes.
During the match against Mexico on Saturday night, 17-year-old midfielder Gilberto Mora came on as a substitute and was nearly wiped out in a shocking studs-up tackle by Nández — when the ball wasn’t seriously 'in play.' Rather than a welcome to senior international soccer, it was a brutal initiation.
The United States men’s national team will be without star player Christian Pulisic for the upcoming November friendlies against Paraguay and Uruguay. For fans asking why is Pulisic not playing for US? Here’s why.
Pulisic is still recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered while playing for the USMNT against Australia on Oct. 14. The U.S. national team and Pulisic’s club AC Milan have made an agreement to keep the 27-year-old forward in Italy for the November international window.
Why is Pulisic not playing for US in November friendlies