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 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 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
The United States men’s national team roster for the 2026 World Cup is a true mystery just eight months away from the start of the tournament. Cristian Roldan threw another curveball into the plan with an impressive performance in the midfield during the USMNT’s 2-1 friendly win vs. Australia on Tuesday.
It’s no secret that the 30-year-old Seattle Sounders midfielder has his fair share of critics among the U.S. fanbase. Roldan has often been a metaphorical punching bag for fans during his limited appearances for the national team over the past few years.
U.S. men’s national team forward, Alejandro Zendejas, delivered a performance to remember on Saturday night, as Club América dismantled rivals Pumas UNAM 4-1 in a fiery Clásico Capitalino at the Estadio Azulcrema.
In one of the strangest national team stories in recent memory, Borussia Mönchengladbach and USMNT defender, Joe Scally, was reportedly left off the U.S. men’s national team’s September roster… for doing donuts in a golf cart.
Yes, you read that right.
Joe Scally golf cart rumor
Ladies and gentlemen, the United States men’s national team are beginning to seriously worry me. If the “worry scale” was similar to DEFCON then I’d say the USMNT are at DEFCON 3.
U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino shocked fans on Tuesday with a bizarre 22-man roster for two September friendlies. Big names like Weston McKennie, Johnny Cardoso, Antonee Robinson, Folarin Balogun, Yunus Musah and Gio Reyna were all left off the roster.
Robinson and Balogun are returning from injury, however the rest were simply left off the roster due to a coaching decision.
In times of great crisis and uncertainty for the United States men’s national team, the supporters can always count on one thing. That single thing: Taylor Twellman is going to supply the people with a great rant about the team and U.S. Soccer.