The United States will open the World Cup 2026 against Paraguay and also face Australia and a European team to be determined in Group D.

And the requirement of a European team in each group denied the U.S. the chance to have beloved minnow Cape Verde in its group. The U.S. avoided some of the European teams looming as potential threats; Italy, Denmark, and Ukraine would head elsewhere.

On Friday, Dec. 5, soccer's governing body drew lots to determine the opening groups of next summer's World Cup. 48 teams were sorted into twelve groups of four, and with that, the tournament got a whole lot more real for the U. S. Men's National Team.