The U.S. men’s national soccer team is about to step into the spotlight.
The squad will get the ball rolling at the 2026 World Cup with its first match on June 12, when the team squares off against Paraguay in Los Angeles. For casual fans, it’s probably been about four years since you’ve last seen them in action — back when the USMNT were last at the World Cup in Qatar. But a lot has changed since then: They’ve brought in a splashy new coach, 13 players making their World Cup debut, and very high expectations for America’s “golden generation” of stars.
Whether you’re a diehard or more of a “sportsball” person, we’ve got a cheat sheet to help get you up to speed before Team USA kicks off. Here’s a look at their upcoming games, the players to have on your radar, and more.
The U.S. men’s soccer team World Cup schedule
The U.S. is in Group D in the tournament — one of 12 groups of four — alongside Australia, Paraguay, and Turkiye.
As we mentioned earlier, their first game will be against Paraguay on June 12 at 9 p.m. EDT. They’ll then play June 19 at 3 p.m. EDT against Australia in Seattle, and then return to L.A. to face Turkiye on June 25 at 10 p.m. EDT. (Check out our World Cup guide for details on how to watch every match.)
How far is the U.S. men’s soccer team expected to advance?
Only eight nations have ever won the World Cup, and it’s highly unlikely the U.S. will become one of them this year, with bookmakers giving the team 60-1 odds, ESPN reports. In the modern era, the U.S. has only ever won a single knockout game in the World Cup — back in 2002 against Mexico — but the bar is high for this 2026 team. The roster is full of players with experience at some of the top soccer clubs in the world, led by a prominent new coach in Mauricio Pochettino. The Argentinian has managed some of the most storied teams in Europe, including Paris Saint-German and Chelsea, and was brought in in September 2024 to help the USMNT go the distance on their home turf.
When it comes to expectations, The Athletic put it best: “A win in the round of 32 is the expectation. A round-of-16 victory would equal a success. A third knockout win, which would take the U.S. to the semifinals, would be unprecedented.”
There aren’t any powerhouses for the U.S. to go up against in Group D, which means the Americans have a decent shot at finishing first, which would set them up with a more manageable knockout round opponent. At the same time, they don’t have any gimmes, either.
They’ve faced all three of their group stage opponents over the past year or so, defeating Australia and Paraguay 2-1 and losing 2-1 to Turkiye. The USMNT is expected to beat Australia, but Paraguay and Turkiye will both likely be tough, close games.
The U.S. men’s soccer team players to watch
Christian Pulisic: The 27-year-old from Hershey, Pennsylvania — aka “Captain America” — will return at striker. (For those of you new to soccer, they’re the ones scoring the goals.) Pulisic has long been considered the face of American soccer, arguably since he became the youngest player to captain the team back in 2018, and he heads up the so-called golden generation — a crop of young American talent that's broken out on the international stage. He’s a historically prolific goalscorer, who cut his teeth playing for some of the best clubs in Europe. But he hit a rough dry spell this year, which he only recently ended with his goal against Senegal in a tune-up game last month.
The striker is keenly aware of the pressure he’s under to produce, and he appears to be embracing it. “This is exactly where I want to be,” he said during a podcast appearance last month. “You can criticize, scrutinize me all you want. I love what I do, and I am just going to keep pushing to be better.”
Weston McKennie: The central midfielder from Little Elm, Texas, enters the tournament hot, coming off an incredible season with Juventus, a top Italian team. He’s often described as a “box-to-box” midfielder, meaning he’s the engine of the team, working the entire length of the field, and he will prove crucial for the U.S. in both the attack and defense.
Folarin Balogun: Currently, Balogun may be the U.S.'s most dynamic attacking threat, although his ability to score has been questioned. The dual national (born in Brooklyn and bred in the U.K.) had the choice of representing either country, as well as Nigeria, where his parents were born. Fortunately, he chose the USMNT in 2023 and has played an important role in the American offense ever since.
Tim Ream: The team’s oldest member at 38, Ream will serve as the U.S.’s World Cup captain. He's been lovingly called the “grandpa of the group” and anchors the U.S. defense. The center-back, who spent nine seasons with the British club Fulham and now plays in the MLS for Charlotte FC, has distinguished himself for his composed decision-making and commanding presence on the pitch.
The Matts: It’s still not entirely clear who will be the starting goalkeeper for the U.S., Matt Turner or Matt Freese. Turner, a 31-year-old who’s spent the past few years playing at prominent clubs in the U.K., started in goal for the U.S. during the World Cup in Qatar and has consistently been the go-to guy up until about a year ago, when Freese came on the scene.
Freese, who plays for New York City FC, has been the pick of the team's head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, playing in goal for the U.S. for most of the past year. He’ll likely do so again this week, although Turner hasn’t given up hope, saying Tuesday: “Everyone has a chance.”
Other players to have on your radar: Tyler Adams captained the USMNT in the last World Cup and remains an important piece of this squad, although injuries over the past couple years have kept him away from national team play. Antonee "Jedi" Robinson will be a difference maker in the back (and he recently scored an absolute stunner against Germany). Timothy Weah is a winger who provides some serious speed and has a knack for whipping in dangerous crosses. (He's also the son of former Liberian president and legendary player, George Weah.) Chris Richards, who was named the 2025 U.S. Soccer Player of the Year, will serve as Ream's center back partner and is certain to help shore up the U.S. defense.
