USA aims high as co-host of 2026 World Cup

The United States men's national soccer team is gearing up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which they will co-host with Canada and Mexico. This tournament represents the US's 12th appearance in the prestigious event and carries significant ambition to improve upon their last World Cup showing, where they were eliminated in the Round of 16.

This will be the second time the United States hosts the World Cup, having previously held the tournament in 1994. For the 2026 edition, the US has been placed in Group D alongside Paraguay, Turkey, and Australia. Their campaign kicks off with a match against Paraguay on June 13, to be held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

The team, nicknamed 'The Stars & Stripes,' has been actively preparing with recent friendly matches, including a 3-2 victory over Senegal. They are scheduled for a final warm-up game against Germany before the World Cup commences. As co-hosts, the US automatically qualified for the expanded 48-team tournament.

Under the guidance of coach Mauricio Pochettino, appointed in 2024, the US team has achieved 15 wins in 25 matches. The squad will be led by Christian Pulisic, currently playing for AC Milan and a former Chelsea player, who has scored 33 goals in 85 international appearances. Key contributors like Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams are also expected to play crucial roles in the team's pursuit of success.