The U.S. men’s national team landed a favorable draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday, giving American fans a reason to feel good heading into a tournament that will be played across the United States, Mexico and Canada. This will be the first World Cup to feature 48 teams, and it runs from June 11 to July 19.
Team USA was placed into Group D with Australia, Paraguay and a still-undecided playoff winner. On paper, it’s a setup many believe the Americans can work with, especially in the expanded group stage format.
The draw was held in Washington, D.C., where President Donald Trump appeared alongside FIFA officials and several well-known American athletes Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal and Aaron Judge, to help reveal the matchups.
For fans in St. Louis, the draw also locked in where the closest action will be. Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium is set to host six games, including group-stage matchups involving Germany, Japan, Argentina and others from Groups E, F and J. With KC only a few hours away, it’s expected to draw strong crowds from St. Louis throughout the monthlong event.
Ticket demand remains heavy, with nearly 2 million already sold ahead of additional sales windows coming in early 2026. The tournament begins June 11, and the U.S. opens play on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles before the knockout rounds start in early July.