U.S. set to open FIFA World Cup against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood oan

OAN Staff Blake Wolf and Brooke Mallory
5:31 PM – Friday, December 5, 2025

The U.S. men’s national team will kick off its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Paraguay on June 12^th at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood — a matchup confirmed during Friday’s official tournament draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Friday’s star-studded ceremony was attended by President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney — joining FIFA President Gianni Infantino onstage to assist with the proceedings. The three world leaders’ countries will be hosting the event, representing North America.

The U.S. men’s national team has been drawn into Group D and will open the 2026 World Cup against Paraguay in Inglewood, California. The Americans will also face Australia and the winner of a UEFA playoff path that includes Turkey, Slovakia, Kosovo, and Romania.

“Everything that we know is very fresh,” stated U.S. men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino after the draw. “We need to build our journey step by step,” he continued. “And we need to prepare. When we start to play — I think the 12^th of June — like it’s the last game, like it’s the last opportunity, like it’s the final of the World Cup.”

“That needs to be our mindset,” Pochettino added.

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Well-known athletes such as Tom Brady (NFL), Canada’s Wayne Gretzky (NHL), Shaquille O’Neal (NBA), and Aaron Judge (MLB) also assisted in the World Cup draw — as the league gears up for the highly anticipated tournament — is expected to draw over 5 million attendees, along with at least 6 billion global viewers.