The USA’s group stage draw means a deep World Cup 2026 run is on the cards

Mauricio Pochettino surely had to strain his face to hide a big grin when the USA’s group stage opponents for the 2026 World Cup were drawn on Friday. Nothing can be taken for granted, but the co-hosts can feel good about the route to the knockout rounds they have been granted.

Australia were the first team to land in Group D with the USA. They were one of the most favourable draws Pochettino’s team could have received with the likes of Colombia, Croatia and Morocco avoided. This was the first sign that the US Men’s National Team had evaded any so-called Group of Death.

The next indication was that Paraguay came out of Pot Three. While the South Americans will pose a threat to the USA when the two teams meet in Los Angeles on June 12, they aren’t expected to be as dangerous as Norway, the nation most 2026 World Cup qualifiers wanted to avoid.

From Pot Four, the USA were drawn against a European team still to come out of the UEFA qualification playoffs. Turkey, Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo will land in Group D once the playoff process concludes in March. Turkey in particular could pose the USA their biggest threat at next summer’s tournament. 

“If you are Argentina, the best team in the world, maybe you can look at what’s after,” said Pochettino when asked whether he was satisfied with the group stage draw his team received in Washington DC. “With the USA, the first game is the final of the World Cup. The second game needs to be the final of the World Cup too.”

2025 was a painful year for the USMNT. The March window for the CONCACAF Nations League was a low point as Pochettino learned some difficult truths about the culture within the camp. From that point, the former Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur boss embarked on a process of squad discovery.

Pochettino called up a whole host of players over the next few camps, picking a second or third string of players for the 2025 Gold Cup. At that tournament, the likes of Max Arfsten, Alex Freeman, Matt Freese, Diego Luna and Malik Tillman emerged as players the USA could count on. These players are a good bet to make next summer’s World Cup squad.

As recently as the friendly defeat to South Korea in September, the USMNT appeared to be on a downward trajectory under Pochettino. The mood around the national team was so negative that some even questioned whether the Argentine should remain in place for the start of the World Cup. Pochettino was under pressure, even if denied it.

Quickly, though, things started to come together over the next few matches. Positive results and performances against Japan, Ecuador, Australia, Paraguay and Uruguay followed, finally hinting that Pochettino was pointing the national team in the right direction. His coaching principles started to shine through.

Whether or not this process will culminate in a successful 2026 World Cup campaign remains to be seen, but the USA’s group stage draw makes a deep run more likely. The USA hasn’t just been handed a favourable draw – they also have the failsafe that third-placed teams will be granted a place in the tournament’s knockout rounds.

The appointment of Pochettino will be defined by what happens next summer. Getting out of the group is the bare minimum, especially now that the USA has learned it will face Australia, Paraguay and one of Turkey, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo in the first phase. The hope is that the momentum will build from this point on.