World Cup 2026 draw: USA to face Australia and Paraguay in group stage

US Men's Soccer Team Gets Harsh Breakup with 2022 World Cup Loss in Draw for 2026 Event

A chilly morning at the Kennedy Center was a far cry from the sweltering heat of Qatar, where the US men's national team suffered its only loss during the 2022 World Cup. The wait has finally come to an end as the draw for the 2026 World Cup, which will see the US co-host with Mexico and Canada, took place in Washington D.C.

For one full 1,098 days, the team has been waiting to find out their fate in the most popular sporting event on the planet. Now, they know that games against Australia, Paraguay, and either Turkey, Romania, or Slovakia will be part of the group stage.

The US is set to kick off its journey at Los Angeles' iconic Rose Bowl Stadium on June 12th with a match against Australia in what promises to be an intriguing showdown between two teams with varying histories in men's World Cup competition. Subsequent matches are scheduled for Seattle and Los Angeles, with kickoff times yet to be announced.

The draw saw the US land in Pot 1, the most favorable grouping available, alongside other high-profile sports personalities such as Tom Brady, Aaron Judge, Shaquille O'Neal, and Wayne Gretzky. The team's path will determine their potential matchups and opponents throughout the tournament.

Australia, ranked behind Japan during the qualifying process, has faced the US once before in a friendly match earlier this year, which it unfortunately lost 2-1. Paraguay secured an automatic spot with a sixth-place finish in South American World Cup qualifying.

Turkey, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo will complete the team's group alongside Paraguay. These four nations are competing for a playoff spot from Europe to secure their World Cup entry. The winner of this competition will face the US if they secure their respective group spots.

The draw sets up an intriguing cross-border scenario as the US faces potential rivals in co-host Canada, who is set to compete in Group B alongside Qatar and other teams. Should the US win its group stage, it could lead to a possible Round of 32 showdown against Argentina on July 1st at Santa Clara Stadium.

Alternatively, if they finish as runners-up in their group or secure one of the top three spots among multiple groups, they may find themselves facing off against notable teams from other groups.

I'm low-key hyped for the US soccer team's chances this time around ! I mean, getting stuck with a decent draw like that, especially with Pot 1 being pretty stacked... I wonder how Tom Brady and Shaq are gonna do in their respective groups tho . But seriously though, it'll be cool to see them compete against Australia and Paraguay early on, and then who knows what's gonna happen in the group stage? Will they be able to make a deep run without that Qatar loss?

so the US team is gonna be playing Australia, Paraguay, and either Turkey, Romania, or Slovakia... that's not bad! got my money on the US vs Australia first match tho [ diagram: a simple flowchart of teams competing in group stage ]

i think the US landing in Pot 1 is good for them gotta say though its gonna be interesting to see how they do against Canada canada's got some tough matches lined up too

I'm loving how this US Men's Soccer Team has bounced back after that tough 2022 World Cup loss . They get to co-host with Mexico and Canada, which is gonna be a blast! I'm hyped for their match against Australia on June 12th - it's gonna be intense ️. The draw was pretty sweet too, landing them in Pot 1... they gotta bring their A-game if they wanna make some noise in this tournament . Can't wait to see how the team performs and which potential matchups they'll face off against

omg i'm so hyped for the US men's soccer team!!! they got a great draw and now it's time to show everyone what they're made of ! i love that they're playing alongside some amazing sports personalities too can't wait to see them crush it at the Rose Bowl on June 12th Australia vs us is gonna be such an epic match fingers crossed for a US win!!!

So it's official now . The US men's soccer team got a pretty sweet draw for the 2026 World Cup. Being in Pot 1 is definitely a bonus - less likely to face super tough opponents early on. But, you know, they still gotta put in the work . I think it's cool that Tom Brady and other big sports stars will be there too - could make for some entertaining games . As for Australia vs us... that's gonna be a tough one . We'll see how it plays out on June 12th! ️

I guess it's nice that the US team got to wait almost a year for this... I mean, who needs excitement and suspense when you can have a long, drawn-out waiting game? It's not like they had anything better to do than sit around twiddling their thumbs. But hey, at least they get to play some cool teams in the group stage... Australia, Paraguay, and who knows, maybe someone from Europe . And yay for the chance to possibly play Argentina if they win their group! Can't wait to see how that turns out

I mean, what's up with the whole process? It feels like we're just being kept on a loop for way too long. 1,098 days is crazy! I get it, you want to make sure everything is perfect and all that, but can't they at least give us some updates or something instead of keeping us in the dark? And now that the draw's out, I'm already starting to worry about our chances. Australia might be tough, we lost to them before, and then there's Paraguay... But you know what's not gonna make this tournament interesting? The fact that everyone's basically already set up their fantasy teams and stuff . Can't wait for the games to start, though! ️

The US Men's Soccer Team has finally found itself a new narrative to cling to after that disappointing draw at the 2022 World Cup . On the bright side, getting stuck in Pot 1 is an excellent opportunity for them to make some noise and put their 2026 campaign on the map . I mean, who wouldn't want to face a friendly matchup against Tom Brady's soccer squad ? But seriously, this draw could be a blessing in disguise. The team can establish themselves as serious contenders and maybe even pull off a Cinderella story . The cross-border aspect of the tournament is also an exciting aspect, pitting them against Canada, their own neighbors to the north . It's going to be fascinating to see how they navigate this challenging group stage and make it to the Round of 32 .

So like the US Men's Soccer Team is finally over that frustrating wait and now they know who they're up against in 2026 ... it's kinda cool to see them get drawn into Pot 1, which is def a good spot for 'em . I mean, they'll have some tough matches ahead, but if they can stay focused and play well together, there's no reason why they shouldn't make a deep run in the tournament . And it's interesting that they're gonna be playing against Canada, since it's like their neighbors or whatever ... it'll be fun to see how that goes down .

I feel for this team, it's like we all go through a breakup – sometimes you don't get what you wanted, but it can also be an opportunity to grow and learn from the experience . Think about it, if they didn't lose that one game in Qatar, would they have been so determined to come back stronger? It's all about perspective, my friends! Life is full of ups and downs, but how we respond to them defines us . Maybe this draw isn't the end of their journey, but a new beginning .

omg did u think they'd make it outta that qatar heat with a win lol i mean u can't argue w/ the team's performance, still gotta root for them 4 the 2026 world cup but those group stage matchups are looking esp against australia & paraguay gotta see how they hold up w/ those teams

Ugh, can you believe how harsh that breakup was with the 2022 World Cup? I mean, I know they didn't exactly go out on a high note... losing to Wales and then Argentina . But still, it's gonna be tough for them to bounce back from this, especially with their group looking pretty competitive .

I do love the fact that they landed in Pot 1 tho , at least that means they've got a slightly easier route than some of the other teams out there . And can we talk about how iconic it is to see Tom Brady and Wayne Gretzky's faces on the draw? It's like they're the real MVPs (most valuable players) .

But for real though, I'm a little sad that we won't get to see a whole US men's team competition without, you know, them having an epic meltdown . Guess we'll just have to settle for their group stage drama instead . Bring it on, 2026!

omg I cant even think about the 2026 World Cup without a headache I remember when the US team was all over the news during the 2018 World Cup, and now its like theyre getting a second chance but seriously, who are they gonna play? Australia is always so tough, and Paraguay seems pretty strong too. And what about that playoff spot? I dont wanna jinx them or anything, but maybe they shouldve played more games before the draw lol can't wait to see how it all goes down though!

ugh i cant wait for this 2026 world cup its been ages since the US mens team has had some real momentum but the draw is pretty harsh what if they get stuck in a tough group with canada and mexico? that would be super frustrating considering how much hype there was around this event i mean, a draw against australia would be okay but we all know how that went down last time

idk about this whole thing ... like, i get it, the US team got a decent draw, but 1,098 days waiting is just too long . what's next? another 3 years of anticipation before we find out what happens? and australia, paraguay, who cares? they're not exactly the toughest opponents in the world cup. and don't even get me started on the usa vs canada part... that's gonna be interesting . but hey, at least it's not as bad as the nfl's new "star pass" system .

I got so hyped watching that World Cup draw ! I drew a little diagram to visualize it:
```
+---------------+
| US Team |
+---------------+
|
|
v
+---------------+ +---------------+
| Pot 1 | | Pot 4 |
| (Fave group) | | (less fav) |
+---------------+ +---------------+
| |
| +---------------+ |
| | Group A | |
| | (US, Canada)| |
| +---------------+ |
| | |
| +---------------+ |
| | Group B | |
| | (Paraguay,| |
| | Turkey/Rom/ | |
| | Slovakia/Kos) | |
+---------------+ +---------------+
```
I'm thinking the US team's path looks pretty sweet, but we gotta play it cool and see how the tournament unfolds . I mean, no easy wins in soccer, right?

OMG I was literally glued to my screen watching the draw and I'm so stoked for our boys in red! The team's been through some struggles after that World Cup loss, but it looks like they've got a solid lineup this time around. Australia's gonna be tough, but I think we've got a good shot at beating 'em . And can you believe the US is getting to host with Mexico and Canada? It's gonna be epic! The group stage draw was kinda meh for me, but it's all about the matchups now . Either way, I'm hyped for some intense soccer action!

man i'm hyped for the US team! they got a pretty sweet draw and now it's time to make some magic happen 1,098 days waiting was totally worth it can't wait to see them take on Australia at the Rose Bowl Stadium, gonna be lit also gotta love how they landed in Pot 1, that's like getting a golden ticket to the party and who knows, maybe they'll even face Argentina in the round of 32 lets go team USA

I'm just soooo relieved that the USMNT is finally done with that awkward Qatari drama . I mean, who needs a 1,098-day wait to find out you're going to be playing Australia and Paraguay? That's like, totally normal... not at all frustrating . But hey, Pot 1 is just so nice of them, isn't it? Like, they basically drew you the perfect group with Tom Brady and Shaq . Can't wait to see how that plays out... probably gonna be a fun time .