The 2026 FIFA World Cup takes place from 11 June to 19 July, with a record 48 teams competing for football’s most coveted trophy across North America.
Hosting for the second time in the competition’s history, the U.S. automatically qualified for this year’s spectacle, drawn against Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye in Group D. Their best-ever result in this tournament dates back to 1930, where the Stars and Stripes finished third in what was their inaugural outing.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men will be captained by defensive stalwart Tim Ream at the back, while talisman Christian Pulisic – nicknamed ‘Captain America’ – will lead from the front. Forward Folarin Balogun, 24, fresh from an impressive season with Monaco, is one of 13 players in the squad who will feature at a FIFA World Cup the first time.
For the U.S., it marks their 12th overall outing on this stage, making it out of the group stage at seven previous times of asking.
