USA at the World Cup: Potential Group of Death? Path to Final? 4th of July Game?

We're getting excited about the 2026 World Cup and seeing the U.S. men's national team take on the best teams from across the globe. Next summer's edition of soccer's marquee event will include 48 teams (the biggest field ever) and will be co-hosted by three countries: the U.S., Canada and Mexico. 

But there are some questions we want answered. Who could be the team's opponents? Could it possibly get roped into a Group of Death? How could Christian Pulisic and Co. reach the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium? We have you covered. 

JUMP TO: Group of Death? | Schedule | Path to World Cup final? | Fourth of July Game? | History, Best Finish

When is the World Cup?

The World Cup will run from June 11–July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The FOX family of networks and the FOX Sports app are your complete home for World Cup content, including live matches, complete highlights, commentary and analysis, and full-match replays.

Who are the USMNT's World Cup Opponents?

The USMNT will know their three group-stage opponents on Dec. 5 when the World Cup draw happens in Washington, D.C., at the Kennedy Center. The team does know its group already (Group D). This was to ensure that, as co-hosts of the tournament, the U.S. would play all three of its matches in the country. 

What Could be the USMNT's ‘Group of Death’? 

There are several ways to look at this. Would it be by FIFA's latest world rankings? By history of the USMNT's opponents at previous World Cups? By the dark horse candidates? Let's start off by how the rankings of all the teams that have already booked their spot for next year:

As you see, teams like Spain (led by Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal) and defending champion Argentina (featuring superstar Lionel Messi) rule the latest rankings. Those two teams – along with France, England, Brazil and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal – will be among the heavy favorites next summer. Now let's move on to the pots:

Each World Cup group will have one team from the four pots established by FIFA ahead of the Dec. 5 draw. The USMNT are in Pot 1 alongside co-hosts Canada and Mexico, and are joined by the top nine-ranked teams.  Each group will also have one opponent from Pots 2, 3, and 4. Teams from the same qualification zone — except for the European confederation (UEFA) — cannot be drawn into the same group. So don't expect two South American teams (CONMEBOL), for example, in the same group. However, there could be up to two UEFA teams in one. 

So if the USMNT represents the Pot 1 opponent in their group and are joined by one team each from the other pots, we can sketch out potential Group of Death scenarios, whether by rankings or by starpower potential. 

USMNT's Group of Death (by FIFA rankings)

Croatia, Norway, Jordan: This includes a Croatian side (Pot 2's highest ranked team) that features veteran AC Milan midfielder Luka Modrić, who helped his country reach the 2018 final and the 2022 semifinals. Add in Pot 3's top side Norway, which will lean heavily on Manchester City superstar striker Erling Haaland and dynamic Arsenal midfielder Martin Ødegaard. Then the weakest of this foursome would be Jordan, which will be making its World Cup debut, but still ranked above the other Pot 4 teams currently qualified for 2026. 

USMNT's Group of Death (if Italy qualifies)

Croatia, Egypt, Italy: Ah, yes. Four-time World Cup champions Italy. The team that hasn't directly qualified for the World Cup since 2014. And if they want to reach the 2026 tournament, it'll have to do it by clinching one of the four pending European spots in March via the UEFA playoffs. If Italy does that, they'll be the most dangerous team in Pot 4.  So the USMNT could have a group that includes Pot 2's Croatia and Pot 4's Italy (remember, only two European teams per group, so Pot 3's Norway can't join here). And since Panama is in the same region (CONCACAF) as the U.S., the next available Pot 3 team would be an intriguing Egyptian side that features a goal machine in Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah. 

USMNT's Group of Death (with other top teams)

Morocco, Norway, Italy: Morocco ranks behind Croatia in the Pot 2 rankings, but make no mistake. Morocco is a talented and deep squad that reached the semifinals in 2022. Along with Norway and potentially Italy, this would be a nightmare group for the USMNT. Add the fact that Morocco has eliminated the U.S. in two junior World Cup tournaments in 2025 (the Under-17 and the Under-23 editions). 

Uruguay, Norway, Ghana: Another potential Pot 4 foe is a familiar one for USMNT fans. Ghana, which struggled throughout its qualifying campaign in Africa, is always a tough opponent at the World Cup. The U.S. has already played Ghana at three separate World Cups, most notably losing to the Black Stars in the Round of 16 at the 2010 edition held in South Africa. Add perennial power Uruguay as a potential Pot 2 opponent, and you have a pretty scary group even if the U.S. did beat the South American side in an exhibition match earlier in November. 

Colombia, Norway, Ghana/Italy: Let's replace one South American powerhouse for another here as the Pot 2 foe. Expect Colombian fans to show up in force to cheer on a squad led by Bayern Munich playmaker Luis Diaz, regardless of who the team plays. With Norway from Pot 3 and Ghana (or again, Italy) from Pot 4, the USMNT will have its hands full. 

When and Where will the USMNT Play?

The three group stage games will be as follows:

June 12 vs. TBD — at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles

June 19 vs. TBD — at Lumen Field in Seattle

June 25 vs. TBD — at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles 

How can the USMNT Reach the World Cup Final?

(Photo by Mike Stobe - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

With their group-stage dates known (even without opponents), we can map out the USMNT's road to the final. There are in total five scenarios for the team to reach the final.

If the USMNT wins Group D:

Round of 32 match – July 1 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. (San Francisco Bay Area)

Round of 16 match – July 6 at Lumen Stadium in Seattle

Quarterfinals match – July 10 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles

Semifinals match – July 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (Dallas Area)

Final – July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York City Area)

If the USMNT finishes second in Group D:

Round of 32 match – July 3 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (Dallas Area)

Round of 16 match — July 7 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta

Quarterfinals match – July 11 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. 

Semifinals match – July 15 at Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta

Final – July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York City Area)

How Can the USMNT Play a World Cup Game on Fourth of July? 

Only if the USMNT doesn't finish first or second in Group D and instead reaches the knockout stage as one of the eight best third-place teams. So it's a tricky road. But here are the scenarios for seeing the USMNT play on Independence Day in Philadelphia. 

Scenario 1

Round of 32 match — June 29 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. (Boston Area)

Round of 16 match — July 4 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia

Quarterfinals match – July 9 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. (Boston Area)

Semifinals match – July 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (Dallas Area)

Final – July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York City Area)

Scenario 2

Round of 32 match — June 30 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York City Area)

Round of 16 match — July 4 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia

Quarterfinals match – July 9 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. (Boston Area)

Semifinals match – July 15 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas (Dallas Area)

Final – July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York City Area)

Scenario 3

This scenario doesn't have them playing on July 4 but still advancing as a third-place team: 

Round of 32 match — July 3 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. 

Round of 16 match — July 7 at BC Place in Vancouver, Canada

Quarterfinals match – July 11 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. 

Semifinals match – July 15 at Mercedez-Benz Stadium in Atlanta

Final – July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey (New York City Area)

What’s the USMNT’s World Cup History and Best Finish?

The USMNT has appeared 11 FIFA World Cups, qualifying in 1930, 1934, 1950, 1990, 1994 (hosts), 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2022. The 2026 edition will be their 12th appearance and the second they host the event (this one alongside Canada and Mexico).  

The USMNT’s best-ever finish came in the inaugural 1930 World Cup in Uruguay, where they reached the semifinals. Since no third-place match was held that year, FIFA officially lists the United States as finishing in third place.

In the modern era, the team’s most notable run occurred in 2002 when they reached the quarterfinals. The U.S. defeated Portugal in the group stage and beat Mexico 2–0 in the Round of 16 before narrowly falling 1–0 to Germany in a match remembered for a missed handball call.