World Cup 2026: U.S. as Host Nation

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The World Cup will make its return to the United States after 32 years. The United States, along with Canada and Mexico, will co-host the tournament starting June 2026. This marks the beginning of a significant event for soccer fans across North America.

The U.S. Men’s National Team will kick off their World Cup journey as one of the host nations. After playing in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the team aims to advance beyond their earlier performances.

Group Stage Matches

The U.S. team is placed in Group D. They will compete in at least three matches during the group stage:

June 12: The U.S. will play Paraguay at 9 p.m. ET at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California.
June 17: The team will face Australia at 3 p.m. ET at Lumen Field, Seattle.
June 25: The final group stage match will be against Turkey at 10 p.m. ET, also at SoFi Stadium.

Members of the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team before a friendly against Germany in Chicago, June 2026.

Path to the Knockout Stage

The knockout phase is set to start on June 28. The top two teams from each group and the eight best third-place teams will advance to the round of 32. The U.S.’ position in these stages depends on their performance in the group matches.

If the U.S. wins Group D, they will play their next match on July 1 at 8 p.m. ET at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. If they end as runners-up, the match shifts to July 3 at 2 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.

Progression and Finals

The round of 16 matches will occur from July 4 to July 7. Quarterfinal matches take place on July 9 and 10. The semifinals are set for July 14, culminating in the World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey. This year’s World Cup will feature 48 teams and include 104 matches over 39 days.

To stay updated on World Cup news and developments, visit CBSSports.com throughout the tournament.