IRVINE, Calif. – FIFA World Cup 2026 kicks off today, and as Mexico hosts South Africa in Mexico City for the tournament opener, the United States, co-host of the tournament along with Mexico and Canada, is using the final 36 hours before matchday to prepare for its own group stage opener.
The U.S. Men’s National Team begins group play in this year’s highly anticipated FIFA World Cup tomorrow evening at Los Angeles Stadium. The opening match on American soil pits the USMNT against Paraguay at 6 p.m. PT. The moment is expected to be massive and exciting, bringing to life all the build-up and anticipation that started in 2018 when the three co-hosts won their bid.
Players on the USMNT feel the excitement and have for a very long time. On Thursday, they reported an importance on focus ahead of an important meeting against an aggressive side in Paraguay but also understood the once-in-a lifetime feeling that will arrive when they first take the pitch.
“We’re so highly focused,” forward Christian Pulisic said. “It’s this big game. You want to do well. You want to perform and get that first game, especially the weight, off your shoulders. But I’m going to look around. I’m going to try and take it in. I have friends and family in the stands. It’s a special moment.”
A FIFA World Cup is already special – the global event only comes around once every four years. But what makes this edition even more unique is that it’s taking place on American soil for just the second time in history. That fact adds a little bit more significance and pride for USMNT players who feel a comfort being close to home.
It’s not every cycle that the U.S. is able to host a tournament of this scale, so seeing American stadiums soon filled with soccer fanatics will create a moment unlike anything they’ve ever seen.
“I’ve told everyone I’ve spoken to that this is the biggest opportunity to really grow the game, to inspire people, to show that American players are at the level of the rest of the world,” midfielder Tyler Adams said.
National Teams only play a handful of matches each year. Last year, the U.S. Men’s National Team played 18 over the course of 11 months. Each international window means calling in a different set of players into camp. It’s a much different scenario than a club team that unfolds its season week-to-week.
So, each opportunity for a National Teams to show what they can do on the pitch is precious. With the whole world watching the U.S., players on the National Team view this moment as the biggest opportunity yet.
“Now, you have a group of Americans playing together at a high level,” Adams said. “Let's show everyone what we're capable of doing.”
FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar allowed the USMNT a chance to show the world what they could do. After failing to qualify for the 2018 edition of the tournament, the U.S. returned to the global stage four years later. Many didn’t know what to expect out of the relatively young U.S. roster. Drawn into a challenging group which included soccer powerhouse England, a young USMNT roster didn’t flinch. The U.S. went undefeated in Group B and finished second to advance to the Round of 16.
The U.S. met the Netherlands in the next round, which proved an entirely different test. The Dutch, who went on to win the match against the United States 3-1 and would take eventual champion Argentina to penalty kicks in the quarterfinals, showed a different and higher standard.
The experience four years ago helped the team know what to expect from the kind of quality teams they could see later in the tournament. The USA’s friendlies in the build-up to this summer’s tournament against World Cup-bound teams such as Senegal, Germany, Portugal and Belgium, also helped players feel battle-tested come tournament time.
“Those are games and experiences that you need,” Adams said. “In Qatar, when we got out of the group and had to play against Holland… we didn't know really what to expect, how to manage the game, how to deal with certain scenarios. Whereas now I feel a lot more comfortable with our identity and our own skin to be prepared for that.”
Half the players on the 2026 roster were part of that group in Qatar, including Tyler Adams, Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and more. Those players have represented the Stars & Stripes for years, and the camaraderie that has built over time has grown the group together and created mainstays in the program.
“We've gained some experience, especially last World Cup, a lot of guys being around, and now we have an opportunity to prove it,” Pulisic said.
World Cup roster debutants like 21-year-old defender Alex Freeman, who was just 17 years old when the team competed in Qatar, have blended in naturally with core veterans, becoming impact players that strengthen the team’s depth and quality.
“They’ve made it so good for me to fit in,” Freeman said. “I don't feel like a young player. I feel like just another player in the squad. It’s so good to have that bond with the players. They took me under their wing. Now, to be able to get that chemistry and talk to them about regular stuff, the age difference does even bother me. It doesn't even seem like we're that different in age, and knowing that I'm here and they're here, and we’re all on the same path.”
The furthest the U.S. has ever advanced at a World Cup in the modern era is the quarterfinals in 2002 in Korea/Japan. That group, led by Landon Donovan, John O’Brien, Brian McBride, Clint Mathis and head coach Bruce Arena, showed that the U.S. is not afraid to play spoiler against heavy favorites like Colombia and can compete with any team in the world.
With the country behind them, and in their own backyard, this 2026 group is looking to create another special moment, one that will show the world how good and beautiful American soccer can be.
“Any World Cup game is a huge opportunity for us,” Pulisic said. “We have three really good games to show everyone what we're all about and hopefully move on and go from there.”
