Updated

Updated · ESPN · Jun 10

FIFA Unveils 2026 World Cup Schedule for 104 Matches Across 3 North American Hosts

Updated

Updated · ESPN · Jun 10

FIFA Unveils 2026 World Cup Schedule for 104 Matches Across 3 North American Hosts

Q: With a tough draw against Paraguay and Turkey, is the USMNT actually the underdog in its own World Cup group?

No. The USMNT is not broadly viewed as the underdog in Group D, but it is far from a comfortable favorite. Most of the available indicators still put the United States slightly ahead of Paraguay, Turkey and Australia. Betting markets cited in the background material list the U.S. as the group favorite at around +130, ahead of Turkey at roughly +175 to +180. Several ranking-based assessments also place the Americans as the highest-ranked team in the group, and some forecasts have them winning the group or at least advancing in second place. Home advantage matters here too: the U.S. plays two matches in Los Angeles and one in Seattle, with limited travel. That said, the draw is clearly dangerous. Turkey arrives with strong momentum after a Euro 2024 quarterfinal run and has high-end talent such as Arda Güler, Kenan Yıldız and Hakan Çalhanoğlu. Paraguay may be less flashy, but their qualifying campaign was built on one of the stingiest defenses in South America, and they beat major opponents along the way. Australia is also organized and difficult to break down. The real issue is that the U.S. is a narrow favorite, not a proven one. Analysts remain split because of concerns about the Americans’ defense, chemistry and uneven recent form. Some experts have even predicted a group-stage exit. So the fairest reading is this: the USMNT is not the underdog on paper, but in a balanced group with Turkey and Paraguay, it is vulnerable enough that an early exit would not be a shock.

3 articles · Updated · ESPN · Jun 10

June 11 opens the 2026 World Cup with Mexico vs. South Africa in Mexico City, and the tournament ends July 19 with the final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The full fixture list maps all 104 matches across the United States, Mexico and Canada, including group-stage pairings, Round of 32 slots, quarterfinals, semifinals and the third-place game.
The expanded 48-team format creates 12 groups of four, with the top two teams plus the eight best third-place finishers advancing to a new 32-team first knockout round.
Host nations headline the early schedule: Mexico plays the opener, Canada begins June 12 in Toronto against Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the United States opens the same day against Paraguay in Inglewood.