United States at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
USMNT compete in Group C at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Manager Mauricio Pochettino, captain Christian Pulisic. Host nation. Host (CONCACAF).
United States's outlook at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Sitting at FIFA #16, United States are firmly in the "dark horse" tier — capable of a deep knockout run if the draw and form align.
United States is the highest-ranked side in Group C (avg. opponent rank #28). They are expected to top the group, but Denmark and South Korea are realistic challengers.
The 2026 tournament uses an expanded 48-team, 12-group format with a new Round of 32. That changes the maths for United States: the top two from each group plus the eight best third-placed teams advance, so even a third-place finish in Group C is often enough to reach the knockouts. The first United States match of the World Cup is scheduled for Friday, June 12 against Denmark at SoFi Stadium.
Group C draw analysis
FIFA Ranking, confederation, and last-appearance finish for every team United States face in Group C.
| Team | FIFA Rank | Confederation |
|---|---|---|
| United States (this page) | #16 | CONCACAF |
| Denmark | #21 | UEFA |
| South Korea | #22 | AFC |
| Panama | #41 | CONCACAF |
United States 2026 World Cup fixtures
Players to watch
Get every player's stats - goals, assists, cards, minutes, xG - via the player stats endpoint for competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}.
United States World Cup history
United States have appeared at 12 previous FIFA World Cups. Their best finish remains 3rd place (1930). Across the last five tournaments they recorded: R16, DNQ, R16, Group, R16, including 1 occasion when they failed to qualify.
Get United States data via API
// Fetch United States World Cup 2026 matches
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.thestatsapi.com/api/football/matches?competition_id={COMPETITION_ID}&team=usa',
{ headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);
const { data } = await response.json();Frequently Asked Questions
What group is United States in at the 2026 World Cup?
United States is in Group C alongside Denmark, South Korea, Panama. The average opponent FIFA ranking in Group C is #28.
Who is United States's manager at the 2026 World Cup?
Mauricio Pochettino manages United States at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Christian Pulisic as captain.
What is United States's best World Cup finish?
United States's best FIFA World Cup finish is 3rd place (1930). They have appeared in 12 previous World Cup tournaments. Recent form: R16, DNQ, R16, Group, R16.
Who are United States's key players at the 2026 World Cup?
Captain Christian Pulisic leads a squad whose standout names include Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie. The full 26-player squad is named approximately one week before the opening match.
How did United States qualify for the 2026 World Cup?
Host (CONCACAF). As a host nation, United States qualified automatically.
What is United States's current FIFA Ranking?
United States are ranked #16 in the world by FIFA at the time of the 2026 World Cup draw. Sitting at FIFA #16, United States are firmly in the "dark horse" tier — capable of a deep knockout run if the draw and form align.
What are United States's chances of winning the 2026 World Cup?
United States is the highest-ranked side in Group C (avg. opponent rank #28). They are expected to top the group, but Denmark and South Korea are realistic challengers. Sitting at FIFA #16, United States are firmly in the "dark horse" tier — capable of a deep knockout run if the draw and form align.
How can I get United States fixtures and stats via API?
Use TheStatsAPI matches endpoint with competition_id={COMPETITION_ID} and filter by team_id to get all United States World Cup 2026 fixtures, lineups, live scores, in-play events, xG, and player-level stats. The same endpoint also returns historical World Cup data for United States going back to their first tournament.
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