"The United States will face Paraguay, Australia and the winner of a UEFA playoff featuring Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo after a relatively favorable group-stage draw for the co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup. That was the result Friday after soccer' biggest competition took a major step closer to reality with a star-studded draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C."
"As co-hosts, the U.S. was seeded in Pot 1 and avoided other top seeds Spain, Argentina, France, England, Brazil, Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, as well as fellow host nations Canada and Mexico. A record 64 nations participated in the draw to determine which 48 teams will take the tournament field this summer. Italy is among 22 nations competing in playoffs for the final six berths to be decided March 31."
The United States will play Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, then Australia on June 19 in Seattle, and the UEFA playoff winner on June 25 at SoFi Stadium. Mexico will open the tournament on June 11 in Mexico City against South Africa. Canada begins on June 12 in Toronto and could face Italy if Italy advances through its UEFA playoff. As a co-host, the U.S. was seeded in Pot 1 and avoided other top seeds and fellow hosts. The expanded 48-team format advances the top two in each group plus eight third-place teams to a 32-team knockout stage.
Read at ESPN.com
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