The 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, commenced on June 11. The tournament features an expanded format of 48 teams, up from 32, playing across 16 host cities in the three nations. The United States men's national team (USMNT) secured first place in Group D by defeating Paraguay and Australia before rotating its lineup in a loss to Turkey. The team now advances to the knockout round. The build-up to the tournament included pre-season friendlies and was marked by several logistical, financial, and geopolitical controversies.
Tournament Overview and Format
The 2026 World Cup is the first to be hosted by three nations and the first to feature 48 teams. The group stage consists of 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams from each group, along with the eight best third-place finishers, advance to a new Round of 32. The knockout phase runs from June 28 to July 19, with the final scheduled at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Opening Ceremonies
- Mexico City (June 11): Shakira and Burna Boy performed the official song "Dai Dai" before the Mexico vs. South Africa match. Other performers included Alejandro Fernández, Belinda, Danny Ocean, J Balvin, Lila Downs, Los Ángeles Azules, Maná, and Tyla.
- Toronto (June 12): Alanis Morissette, Alessia Cara, Jessie Reyez, and Michael Bublé performed before Canada vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Los Angeles (June 12): Katy Perry, Future, Anitta, LISA, Rema, and Tyla performed before USA vs. Paraguay.
Security Measures
The FBI deployed tactical teams to 11 U.S. cities. ICE’s role was focused on national security, not immigration enforcement. A Somali referee, Omar Abdulkadir Artan, was denied entry to the U.S. for undisclosed reasons.
USMNT Group Stage Performance
The United States men's national team (USMNT) competed in Group D, which also included Paraguay, Australia, and Türkiye. The team finished with two wins and one loss to secure first place in the group.
Match 1: USA 4-1 Paraguay (June 12, Inglewood, California)
- Goals: Damián Bobadilla (own goal), Folarin Balogun (2), Gio Reyna.
- Folarin Balogun became the first US player to score multiple goals in a World Cup match since 1930. Christian Pulisic left at halftime due to a calf injury. Defender Chris Richards completed 83 of 83 passes, a World Cup record. Captain Tim Ream became the oldest US player to appear in a World Cup match at age 38. Attendance was 70,492.
Match 2: USA 2-0 Australia (June 19, Seattle, Washington)
- Goals: Cameron Burgess (own goal), Alex Freeman.
- Christian Pulisic missed the match due to injury. The US secured a place in the Round of 32 with the victory. This marked the first time the US won consecutive World Cup matches since 1930.
Match 3: USA 2-3 Türkiye (June 25, Inglewood, California)
- Goals: Auston Trusty, Sebastian Berhalter for USA; Arda Güler, Orkun Kökçü, Kaan Ayhan for Türkiye.
- Coach Mauricio Pochettino rested nine regular starters to avoid potential yellow card suspensions for the knockout round. Christian Pulisic returned as a substitute, his first action since the calf injury. Kaan Ayhan scored the winning goal in the 8th minute of stoppage time.
Group D Standings and Knockout Path
- Group D Final Standings: 1. USA (6 points), 2. Australia (4 points), 3. Paraguay (4 points), 4. Türkiye (0 points). Australia and Paraguay also advanced as one of the best third-place teams.
- Round of 32 Opponent: The US is scheduled to face Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
- Potential Path: Should the US win, they would face the winner of Belgium vs. Senegal in the Round of 16.
Tournament Trends and Notable Results
- The expanded format led to several debutants advancing, including Cape Verde, Canada, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Morocco eliminated the Netherlands in a penalty shootout (3-2 after a 1-1 draw) in the Round of 32.
- Other Round of 32 matches included Brazil vs. Japan, Germany vs. Paraguay, and Argentina vs. Cape Verde.
- The tournament surpassed the 1994 attendance record of 3.6 million spectators.
Pre-Tournament Team Preparation
The USMNT played three friendlies prior to the World Cup to prepare. The team was led by Coach Mauricio Pochettino, who was hired in September 2024.
Friendlies Results:
- USA 3-2 Senegal: Folarin Balogun scored the game-winner.
- USA 2-5 Belgium: The match served as a learning experience, according to Coach Pochettino.
- USA 0-2 Portugal: Portugal and Belgium demonstrated superior finishing, as noted by the coach.
- USA 1-2 Germany: Kai Havertz and Leroy Sané scored for Germany; Antonee Robinson scored for the US. Coach Pochettino called a draw the "fairest result."
Player Assessment:
- Forward Christian Pulisic and midfielder Weston McKennie were considered secure roster positions.
- Defender Tim Ream, age 38, played in the 2022 World Cup.
- Goalkeeper Matt Freese played in pre-tournament matches, potentially solidifying a starting role.
Pre-Tournament Controversies and Issues
The build-up to the 2026 World Cup was marked by several controversies.
FIFA Peace Prize
FIFA awarded its inaugural "Peace Prize" to U.S. President Donald Trump. The decision drew criticism from human rights groups and Australia midfielder Jackson Irvine.
US-Iran Tensions
Geopolitical tensions affected Iran's participation. The country requested to move its training camp from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana, Mexico, which was approved by FIFA.
Ticket Prices and Fan Costs
- Ticket prices were the highest in World Cup history, with dynamic pricing based on demand. FIFA released a limited number of $60 tickets for all matches after criticism.
- The resale platform charged a 30% fee, with some final tickets listed above $2 million.
- Football Supporters Europe filed a complaint over pricing. Attorneys-general of New York and New Jersey investigated the prices. Toronto passed the 'Putting Fans First Act' requiring resale at original price.
Transportation
- NJ Transit set a round-trip fare of $150 from New York to MetLife Stadium, later reduced to $98 after backlash. Other cities maintained regular or offered free transit.
- Mexico abandoned a plan to end the school year early to ease traffic.
Hotel Bookings
Hotel bookings in nine of the 11 U.S. host cities were below projections, according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). The AHLA cited fewer international travelers, FIFA cancellations of room blocks, visa delays, and a strong U.S. dollar.
Host Nation Relations
Relations between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico were strained by political factors, including U.S. tariffs and rhetoric about Canada and military action in Mexico.
Pride Match Dispute
A scheduled "Pride Match" in Seattle between Egypt and Iran drew scrutiny due to both countries' laws regarding LGBTQ+ communities. FIFA stated that rainbow flags are permitted.
Visa Policies
The U.S. waived a visa bond requirement for fans from five qualifying nations (Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Tunisia) who purchased World Cup tickets.