WASHINGTON — Friday’s World Cup draw couldn’t have gone significantly better for U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino. In a star-studded two-hour ceremony held on the Kennedy Middle, People have been grouped with Paraguay and Australia, groups they beat within the final two months, together with the winner of a European playoff that includes Turkey, Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo.
“We’ve already performed the homework as a result of it’s contemporary,” Pochettino mentioned. “We all know them however they know us. A very powerful factor is evolution and enhancing in all of the areas for us to make sure that, in our debut, we can be stronger than right this moment.
“I’ve been wanting ahead to the World Cup. We begin right this moment.”
Subsequent summer time’s match, which is able to kick off June 11 in Mexico Metropolis with Mexico dealing with South Africa, would be the largest, most advanced single-sport competitors in historical past, with 48 groups enjoying 104 video games throughout three international locations earlier than the July 19 last in East Rutherford, N.J.
It’s going to even be the primary World Cup to be performed within the U.S. in 32 years. And for the gamers, which means all the pieces.
“You’ll be able to’t ask for something higher. It’s what we dreamed of as children,” ahead Christian Pulisic mentioned. “It’s vital to enter it with the mentality that we’re simply going to take pleasure in it. We’re going to attempt to soak up the entire expertise.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime alternative.”
The U.S. is ranked 14th on the earth; of the six different groups drawn into its group, solely Turkey is within the high 25. That would appear to make the trail to the knockout stage a bit simpler.
The People will open the match in opposition to No. 39 Paraguay at SoFi Stadium on June 12, then face Australia in Seattle on June 19 earlier than returning to Inglewood to shut out group play in opposition to the playoff winner June 25. The highest two groups in every of the 12 four-team teams, plus the eight-best third-place groups, advance to the second spherical.
If the U.S. wins the group, it might keep in California to play a third-place workforce in Santa Clara, setting it on a highway that will take it to Seattle for the spherical of 16 then again to SoFi Stadium for the quarterfinals, a stage the U.S. has reached simply as soon as within the fashionable period.
Midfielder Tyler Adams mentioned nobody is mapping out that journey simply but.
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Kevin Baxter shares his ideas on the US’ path within the 2026 World Cup and what groups might need the hardest trek in group play.
“There’s no straightforward recreation in a World Cup,” he mentioned. “In actual fact, I feel a few of our hardest video games within the earlier World Cup have been in opposition to the lesser opponents. However it’s enjoyable understanding that we’ve performed a few of these opponents earlier than.”
Ending second would see the workforce play its first knockout recreation in Dallas and, ought to it win that, head to Atlanta for the spherical of 16.
“I’m certain you’d anticipate the U.S. to be a favourite,” mentioned Tony Popovic, coach of Twenty sixth-ranked Australia. “They’d anticipate to undergo as a number nation, enjoying at house. If that’s the case, I’m completely happy for them — so long as we’re with them and be a part of them.”
Pochettino, nonetheless, mentioned he gained’t be distracted by discuss the group is a straightforward one, as a result of anticipating to win and really doing so are two various things.
“To the individuals who say ‘it’s important to win’ earlier than you even play — no,” he mentioned in Spanish. “In soccer you don’t win on the bus. You win whenever you earn it on the sphere.
“For that purpose we’ve to indicate numerous respect — full respect — for our opponents.”
Group of Demise? Extra like Group of Mildly Uncomfortable
France, a World Cup finalist in 2022, can be enjoying in arguably the hardest group on the 2026 World Cup.
(Kevin Dietsch / Getty Photos)
If the U.S. acquired a good draw, the identical can’t be mentioned for France, which was grouped with Senegal, Norway (and Erling Haaland) and the survivor of an interconfederation playoff that includes Bolivia, Suriname and Iraq. It’s not fairly a Group of Demise, nevertheless it’s in all probability probably the most aggressive quartet to return out of Friday’s draw.
Different sturdy teams embody Group C, topped by five-time champion Brazil and Morocco, a semifinalist 4 years in the past, and Group H, with match favourite Spain and Uruguay, which made the quarterfinals in two of the final 4 World Cups.
Defending champion Argentina will play in Group J in opposition to Algeria, Austria and Jordan, none of whom are ranked among the many high 23 on the earth.
With eight third-place groups qualifying for the knockout rounds for the primary time in World Cup historical past, the margin of error within the first spherical has by no means been larger, which means groups could have an opportunity to beat one poor recreation — and even two — and nonetheless advance.
There’s no place like house for Mexico
Mexico made it to the quarterfinals within the first two World Cups performed in Mexico, a historical past that coach Javier Aguirre is properly conscious of as a result of the final time it occurred, in 1986, Aguirre began at midfield in El Tri’s last recreation.
So with the match returning to Mexico subsequent summer time, Aguirre is hoping to get the workforce again to the ultimate eight.
“After we’re enjoying at house, we’re very excited,” the coach mentioned in Spanish.
However first to make it wherever close to the quarterfinals, Mexico must get by a gaggle that features South Africa, South Korea and the winner of a European playoff that includes Denmark, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic or Eire.
“It’s not a straightforward group,” mentioned Aguirre, whose workforce closed the yr winless in its final six tries. “These are fascinating video games, with many various kinds and we’re going to arrange ourselves to face it.
“We will’t underestimate anybody.”
Successful the group would give Mexico the possibility to play its first two knockout video games at house earlier than touring to South Florida for the quarterfinals. Ending second would put it on observe to go Los Angeles, then Houston — two closely Mexican markets — for its subsequent two video games. On that observe, its quarterfinal can be in Foxborough, Mass.
South Korea, captained by LAFC ahead Son Heung-min, has certified for 11 consecutive World Cups, a streak crushed solely by Germany, Brazil, Spain and Argentina. South Africa final performed within the match in 2010, when it hosted the occasion.
Trump will get peace prize
FIFA President Gianni Infantino presents President Trump with FIFA’s newly created peace prize earlier than the beginning of the World Cup draw on Friday.
(Stephanie Scarbrough / Related Press)
Earlier than Friday’s draw started, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino offered President Trump with FIFA’s first Peace Prize, a transfer many interpreted as a gesture by Infantino to curry favor with Trump, whose cooperation can be key to a profitable World Cup.
Infantino, who introduced the creation of the annual award final month, praised Trump’s actions “to pursue peace world wide,” together with his work in bringing a few ceasefire in Gaza.
“That is what we wish from a frontrunner, a frontrunner that cares concerning the folks,” he mentioned. “We wish to reside in a protected world. That’s what we do right here right this moment. That’s what we do on the World Cup, Mr. President. And also you undoubtedly deserve the primary FIFA Peace Prize on your motion, for what you’ve got obtained in your means.”
Trump thanked Infantino, calling the award “one of many nice honors of my life.”
Give ‘em a break
Document warmth and humidity spoiled final summer time’s FIFA Membership World Cup, with temperatures topping 90 levels for a lot of afternoon video games, hampering play and leaving some gamers in misery. Consequently FIFPRO, the union representing the gamers, known as for higher scheduling and extra hydration breaks for the World Cup — and FIFA seems to be listening.
World Cup organizers are reportedly contemplating mandating water breaks for each halves of each recreation, even for matches performed indoors.
