The World Cup is here. Let's get you up to speed.
No soccer knowledge required. How it works, where the US stands, and what to watch.
The biggest sporting event in the world, in our backyard
First men's World Cup on US soil since 1994 — and it'll be the largest in history.
Teams
Up from 32 — the biggest field the tournament has ever had.
Matches
Across the US, Canada and Mexico — the first three-nation World Cup.
Days
June 11 to the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium (aka New York New Jersey Stadium).
It's here. It's finally here. As a lifelong soccer fan, my favorite time of year is when this country comes together to care, or at least pretend to care, about soccer - specifically for the U.S. Men's National Team (commonly referred to as the USMNT). And to make things even better, this time around, IT'S ON HOME SOIL!
Whether this country wants to admit it or not, this is the largest sporting event in the world. The 2022 World Cup final drew around 1.5 billion viewers worldwide (!!!), roughly 12x the ~125 million who watched this year's Super Bowl here in the US.
You don't have to have grown up with the sport or been a diehard fan - all bandwagoners welcome. The World Cup is more than soccer team vs. soccer team - it's country vs country and culture vs. culture. It's a celebration of both unity and national pride, and there's something uniquely patriotic about rooting for the US to kick everyone else's ass (will that happen? TBD). It's the one time everyone from every state can come together to support one team.
With that in mind, let me walk you through what to expect and how best to watch over the next 39 days. You're part of a huge moment in history - it's time to get on board!
Group stage games, then a knockout bracket
A slightly different version of a familiar format
Groups of 4
Everyone plays the other three teams in their group once. Win = 3 points, draw = 1, lose = 0. Groups are named Group A through Group L.
+ 8 best 3rds
Previously, it was just the top two teams from each group advance. Now, it's top two plus the eight best third-place teams.
Then sudden death
After group play, 48 whittles down to 32. The 32 teams are now in the knockout stage, and one loss sends you home.
The USMNT are in group D, along with Paraguay, Australia, and Turkey. If the US wins all three games, that will be 9 points and a guaranteed first place finish in the group. A win, tie, and loss will get you four points. Etc. Etc. Tiebreakers are determined on head to head result, then head to head goal difference, then a few more things that we don't usually have to get into.
In previous world cups, since only the top two teams of each group advanced, 4 points would be cutting it pretty close. With this new format of also having two-thirds of the third-place teams advance, 3 points is probably enough to advance, but it of course depends on how the other results turn out. A win and a draw, or better, going into the final game of the group stage would be a good position to be in.
After those three guaranteed group games, if you qualify, you enter the knockouts. From there, it's single elimination on out. It's a little confusing on who plays whom in the knockout stage, but the graphic below can help.
Overall, there are mixed feelings about the new format. Soccer, like every other sport, continues to grow, and FIFA claims that going from 32 -> 48 teams gives more countries the opportunity to play on the biggest stage. Critics argue that it devalues the group games and that we will see more lopsided victories. Honestly, it's very similar to the CFP expansion talk, and just like that conversation, this doesn't really stop at this first expansion...it's a matter of if 48 makes sense, or if they will eventually expand to 64 teams in the future.
Some soccer basics to know
Enough to follow the lineup below and understand what you're watching a bit better
- There are eleven players on the field at a time. When you hear about formations, start from the back; so a team playing a 4-4-2 means four defenders, four midfielders, and two attackers. The goalie is never counted.
- Better teams will look to control the ball more and find openings through lots of passing, whereas weaker teams might look to play stout defense then counterattack.
- Typically, in world cup games, many teams will play 'pragmatic' soccer, meaning not take as many risks. This is because the stakes are so high.
- 45 minutes per half (with 3 min. hydration breaks each half that double as ads), 15 minute half time, and typically 5-8 minutes of 'extra time' once the 90 minutes are up. The game ends on the ref's whistle, not when the clock hits an exact time
- Attacking third means the area of the field where teams focus their offensive play, typically near the opponent's goal. It's quite literally if the pitch was divided into three equal parts horizontally, it's the part closest to the opponent's goal. Defensive third is the opposite.
- Terms to know:
- Press: when a team constantly pressures another team when they have the ball. Strong tactic but cannot do it forever (exhausing). Like full-court pressing in basketball.
- VAR: virtual assistant referee. It's like the replay box for officials.
- Fullback means left and right defenders. Centerbacks are central defenders. Wingers are outside midfielders (run a lot) and strikers are pure attackers at the top.
- A '9' means a striker. A '10' is usually your best player. A '6' is your defensive midfielder. You can look for those numbers on the pitch - numbers typically do mean something in soccer.
One team, two shapes
Modern teams don't stand still. Flip the toggle to see how the same eleven players spread out to attack get compact to defend.
Attacking shape
3-4-2-1
Pochettino's (the manager) side builds out from the back with brave passing - this means we like passing up FROM the back, as compared to something like having a defender boot it up the field and try and get possession from there. From that end, look for defenders to pass short a decent amount, even when we're close to our own goal. Positionally, a defender like Freeman tucks in to make a back three in the center. The wing-backs like Robinson and Dest (two of our fastest players) fly up the sides of the pitch, and Pulisic (our best player) drifts into central pockets to spark quick combinations. Tap or hover any player to see who they are.
A simplified look at how the projected XI shifts shape. Exact starters firm up right before kickoff.
The main takeaway is this, regardless of the specific formations: in attack, we usually go from 4 defenders to 3, letting fast players run up and down on the outside of the field, while our best attackers drift into the middle and find space in the attacking third. On defense, we get more organized and compact near our goal.
Where the USMNT actually stands
A talented young side with a famous coach, home-field advantage, and one big question mark.
The expectation
Escaping a winnable Group D is the realistic baseline.
The dream
The semifinals would be the best US run since 1930.
FIFA rank
Highest in their group, but no top-100 player in the world.
No game in our group will be a pushover, but all are winnable. Paraguay and Australia are slightly inferior opponents that will play more defensive against us, looking for quick counterattacks. Turkey stack up more evenly and should be a good and exciting game, since both teams have attacking talent. Since Turkey is our last group game, if we beat the other two, we are in great position to get to the knockouts regardless of that outcome.
This is the most talented USMNT roster I've seen in my lifetime. We have players playing all over the top-flights of Europe, and 2 years ago we brought in one of the most successful and recognized managers in world soccer, Mauricio Pochettino.
If this group can bring it all together and excel in this tournament is the question. 2 years ago during Copa America ('mini-WC' tournament for just north and south america), the USMNT crashed out in the group stage, losing to inferior opponents.
Since then and leading up to the World Cup, it hasn't always been great. It's taken a while for Pochettino to really form this team, but in the past few weeks, they have started looking like the best version of themselves. A 3-2 win over Senegal two weeks ago showed their attacking prowess, and although they lost 1-2 to Germany last week, there were plenty of bright spots that showed we could hang with some of the best.
The USMNT faces opposing expectations — American optimism and being on home-soil pushes the expectations up, while it's rather easy for other big-soccer nations to dunk on American soccer culture and our team and say we will perform poorly and get bounced early. We are in between the two.
If I was a betting man, I would guess we get to the round of 16 before losing. We should be favored, or at least even money, in every game leading up until that point, unless we somehow get third in our group and go against a really strong first-place team in the round of 32. Not getting out of the group would be an absolute disaster.
All that said, part of me feels like we can really reach the quarterfinals, which would be an outstanding result. Home world cup teams typically perform better, and I think we have really rounded into form as of late and are mentally prepared for the weight of this world cup. With a world-class coach, a talented group of players, and playing in front of home crowds, anything is possible. Here's to the 'American Optimist' in me hoping for the best.
A run to the quarterfinals.
The Round of 16 is the realistic floor — anything less would be an underachievement. But with home crowds, a world-class coach in Pochettino, and a team finally rounding into form, I think this group makes the quarterfinals: our deepest run since 2002, and a moment that could change how this country sees the sport.
The Teams
A handful of countries have a real shot, while others are a long shot. Here's some of the key teams going in.
Spain 🇪🇸 — Winners of Euro 2024, and play selfless, fluid soccer. Player to watch: Lamine Yamal.
France 🇫🇷 — Winners of WC 2018 and runners-up in 2022. Incredible attacking talent — their bench players alone could make a decent starting team. Player to watch: Kylian Mbappé.
England 🇬🇧 — An incredibly talented squad with some of the best players in the world. They typically just haven't lived up to the potential, but that could change this year. Player to watch: Harry Kane.
Portugal 🇵🇹 — The most talented midfield in the competition, and Cristiano Ronaldo's last ride. Player to watch: Bruno Fernandes.
Argentina 🇦🇷 — Winners of the World Cup in 2022. Being slept on because the team is a bit older and less Messi-reliant, but still one of the best teams in the world.
Germany 🇩🇪 — A typical World Cup powerhouse, but they've been bounced in the group stage in the past two tournaments. Looking to bounce back this year with a very solid defense. Player to watch: Jamal Musiala.
Brazil 🇧🇷 — Another World Cup powerhouse that hasn't gotten there in the past few decades. They just brought in a new coach, Carlo Ancelotti, who basically wins everywhere he goes. Player to watch: Vinícius (Vini) Jr.
Senegal 🇸🇳 — Controversial losers of the AFCON Cup (they won, but the win was voided on paper), with plenty of core talent at the end of their prime looking to make a deep run.
Norway 🇳🇴 — Some of the best players they've ever had, and they were devastating in qualifying, racking up goals left and right. Player to watch: Erling Haaland.
Ecuador 🇪🇨 — Sneakily one of the best teams in qualifying, having lost only once in their new coach's 19-game tenure (7W, 11D, 1L). They play incredible defense but will need some inspiration on the attacking side.
Curaçao 🇨🇼 — To their country, these players are anything but! Unfortunately, they have the worst odds to win the whole thing, sitting at 2500:1. Feeling lucky?
Of course any team can theoretically win the whole thing, but these are a few to focus on. There are plenty of other contenders to check out (Morocco, Netherlands, Belgium, and more) in the sections below.
It's coming home: England.
The smart money would be on France or Spain, but something tells me it's finally coming home for England. Their best player, Harry Kane, is in the form of his life, and they have the talent and coach to make it happen.
What to follow even with no team
The last-dance generation of Messi (38, Argentina) and Ronaldo (41, Portugal) takes on the new wave of Yamal (18, Spain), Mbappé (27, France), and Haaland (25, Norway).
Heat, altitude, and large travel distances (newsflash: North America is large!) will play a part in this World Cup. Teams who manage that best will have the advantage.
You can ALWAYS expect something weird to happen in a World Cup: Saudi Arabia beat Argentina in the last World Cup, Ivory Coast beat France last week, and the last time the World Cup was played on U.S. soil, Sweden and Bulgaria made the semifinals!
Fun fact: no foreign-born coach has ever won a World Cup. Will that change this year with Tuchel (German) leading England, Carlo Ancelotti (Italian) leading Brazil, or even Pochettino (Argentinian) leading the USMNT?!
A few years back, USMNT legend Claudio Reyna publicly spatted with USMNT coach Greg Berhalter because he felt Greg wasn't giving his son, Gio Reyna, enough playing time. Greg — for more reasons than just that — was ultimately fired in 2024. Now Greg's son Sebastian and Gio Reyna both play for the USMNT, and all seems to be fine among them.
Pick a team, get the rundown
Tap any badge for a quick scouting report — who they are, how they play, and who to watch.
All 48 teams, ordered by group (A–L). Tap any badge for its scouting report.
No one to root for? Take the quiz.
Answer four quick questions and I'll match you with a team to adopt for the next month.
Your USMNT viewing plan
All three group games — times in ET. English on Fox/FS1, Spanish on Telemundo.
9:00 PM ETUSA vs ParaguaySoFi Stadium, LA
FOX
3:00 PM ETUSA vs AustraliaLumen Field, Seattle
10:00 PM ETUSA vs TürkiyeSoFi Stadium, LA
FOX
You're ready. Go enjoy it.
Fri, Jun 12
USA's opener vs Paraguay, 9pm ET. Circle it.
Christian Pulisic
The US captain and your easiest name to know.
Home-Field Tournament
This is our first world cup since 1994, and will likely be our last until many years from now.
Back in 2023, I wrote that there hasn't been a better time to be a fan of United States soccer. Here is an excerpt from that piece:
"Frankly, all this momentum and the surge in US soccer's popularity leads us straight to the big event — the 2026 World Cup on American soil. Hosting the World Cup for the first time since 1994, we have a much stronger team, increased popularity, and higher expectations. While 2026 seems like a while away, nations are already gearing up for the greatest month of sport in three years' time."
Well, the time has come, and I wasn't joking around: it has all led to this. Every practice and every game has led to this event, with this team, on this home soil.
Last time we played a World Cup at home, the 1994 team changed how this country viewed this sport. This team can have the same impact. It's time for us as a nation to gather together and support this team for the next month, because who knows — we could be changing the course of soccer in this country forever.