USA World Cup 2026 guide: Fixtures, prediction, key player and odds

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·1 Juni 2026

USA World Cup 2026 guide: Fixtures, prediction, key player and odds

Expectations are heightened for one of the hosts, with multiple players in their prime

One of three host countries, the USA will stage the World Cup final. It is unlikely that the USMNT will go all the way this summer, but home-field advantage may facilitate a deeper run in the competition.

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The US have been inconsistent at the World Cup since last hosting in 1994. Missing out on the tournament entirely in 2018, the Americans usually make it out of the group stage, but have not progressed past the quarter finals stage since the inaugural edition in 1930 - where they were aided by there being just 13 teams.

With 48 teams involved in 2026, the USA have been handed a testing group of Turkey, Australia, and Paraguay. Mauricio Pochettino will be expected to at least guide his side out of the group stage, with most of the squad in their primes. Just exactly how far they will go will be decided on how the bracket opens up - and how the players react to the pressure of a home tournament.

Goalkeepers: Chris Brady, Matt Freese, Matt Turner

Defenders: Max Arfsten, Sergino Dest, Alex Freeman, Mark McKenzie, Tim Ream, Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Miles Robinson, Joe Scally, Auston Trusty

Midfielders: Tyler Adams, Sebastian Berhalter, Weston McKennie, Giovanni Reyna, Cristian Roldan, Malik Tillman

Forwards: Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi, Christian Pulisic, Timothy Weah, Haji Wright, Alejandro Zendejas

USA World Cup fixtures

(all times BST)

USA vs Paraguay (2am on June 13, SoFi Stadium)

USA vs Australia (8pm on June 19, Lumen Field)

Turkey vs USA (3am on June 26, SoFi Stadium)

Mauricio Pochettino swapped club football for international duty in 2024 after his stint at Chelsea

Based on May’s FIFA world rankings, Group D is the most even pool of the 2026 World Cup. The US are ranked 16th in the world, with Paraguay the lowest ranked by FIFA at number 40. With 32 teams advancing from the initial 48, the USA have a bit more margin for error. However, it is not unlikely that each country in the group will take points off each other, potentially harming the third-placers’ chances of progression.

The USA will have the sights set on automatic progression, in particular finishing top of the group. Do that and they would be on course to meet the winners of Group G in the round of 16, presuming that the favourites advance in each tie. That would set-up a rematch with Belgium, who managed to best the heroics of Tim Howard in extra time of their knockout tie in 2014. The Belgians are removed from their golden generation, meaning the US might fancy their chances of reaching the quarter-finals.

Key player

Tyler Adams and Antonee Robinson have become key figures for AFC Bournemouth and Fulham, respectively, in the Premier League, whilst Weston McKennie has revitalised his career at Juventus.

All will have to be at their best for the US to go deep into the tournament, but hopes will be pinned on star man Christian Pulisic. The former Chelsea man is the top goalscorer in the squad with 32 goals in 84 international caps. A goal threat that also creates for his teammates, Pulisic is in his prime at 27. Combined with playing in a World Cup in front of his home fans, the ingredients are there for a memorable campaign for the winger.