USA to Face Paraguay in 2026 World Cup Opener
The United States Men’s National Team is set to begin their journey in the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Paraguay on June 12th. The game will take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. This exciting matchup was announced during the official tournament draw held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
The event brought together important leaders from the countries hosting the World Cup in North America. President Donald Trump, along with the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, and the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, were all present. They joined FIFA President Gianni Infantino on stage to help with the draw.
The U.S. team finds itself in Group D for the 2026 World Cup. In addition to Paraguay, they will also play against Australia and the winner of a UEFA playoff. This playoff includes teams from Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo, and Romania.
Mauricio Pochettino, the coach of the U.S. Men’s National Team, shared his thoughts after the draw. He said that the team needs to take things one step at a time and be well-prepared. He stressed the importance of playing every game as if it were their last, giving it their all, as if it were the World Cup final.
The World Cup draw event was not just about soccer. It also featured well-known sports figures like Tom Brady from the NFL, Wayne Gretzky from the NHL, Shaquille O’Neal from the NBA, and Aaron Judge from MLB. This shows how important and exciting the tournament is for everyone. The event is expected to bring in over 5 million people and be watched by at least 6 billion people around the world.
Adding a touch of fun to the event, President Trump was seen doing his famous “Trump shuffle” dance while the Village People performed.
Before the draw, President Trump was honored with the FIFA Peace Prize. This award is given to people who have done great things to bring peace and unite people from all over the world. FIFA President Gianni Infantino specifically mentioned President Trump’s role in helping to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.
The United States will be a major part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, hosting 60 games in 11 cities. The tournament will have a total of 104 games. The final match, where the World Cup champion will be crowned, will be held at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Other groups are:
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, and a UEFA playoff winner
Group B: Canada, a UEFA playoff winner, Qatar, and Switzerland
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland
Group E: Germany, Curaçao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, a UEFA playoff winner, and Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, and New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay
Group I: France, Senegal, a FIFA playoff winner, and Norway
Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, and Jordan
Group K: Portugal, a FIFA playoff winner, Uzbekistan, and Colombia
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama
The 2026 FIFA World Cup promises to be a great event for the United States and the world. It’s a chance to celebrate sportsmanship, national pride, and the values we hold dear.
