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Many said the World Cup would be a failure if the United States didn’t make it out of the group stage, without even knowing who they would face.
Well, the Stars and Stripes learned Friday who they’ll be facing in the group stage, and by all accounts, the United States Men’s National Team should easily advance to the knockout stage.
The United States is the highest-ranked team in its group, joining Australia (26th), Paraguay (39th) and a team that will be determined early next year in the qualifiers.
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Alejandro Zendejas #17 of the United States scores a goal and celebrates with Max Arfsten #18, Cristian Roldan #24 and Christian Pulisic #10 during an international friendly match between Japan and the USMNT at Lower.com Field on September 9, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (Robin Alam/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
This is the seventh time Australia has qualified for the World Cup, including each of the last six. His best result is the round of 16, achieved twice. One such instance occurred in Qatar four years ago, when the country lost to eventual champions Argentina.
Paraguay was placed in the American group because they were not allowed to be in the same group as Group C leaders Brazil because they belong to the same confederation. This will be her first World Cup since 2010, when she reached the quarter-finals and lost to eventual champions Spain.
U.S. President Donald Trump selects the United States for Group D in the official draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts December 5, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Brad Smith/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
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The final place remains to be determined but will go to Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo. Turkey has participated in two World Cups, finishing third in its last appearance in 2002. Romania is hoping to return after its last appearance in 1998. Slovakia’s last appearance was in 2010, when it reached the round of 16, and Kosovo has yet to participate in the event.
The USMNT hasn’t had much success in the World Cup. The team reached the round of 16 in 2010 and 2014, but failed to qualify for the tournament in 2018. They returned to the round of 16 three years ago but were unable to advance out of the group stage of the Copa América at home last year.
Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, Aaron Judge and Wayne Gretzky were on hand to select the groups.
In 2026, the United States will be seeking redemption and will have favorable confrontations from the start.
A photo shows groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K and L during the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC on December 5, 2025. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
The United States opens the tournament June 12 in Los Angeles against Paraguay on FOX.
