U.S. men's soccer team plays first 2026 World Cup match

The U.S. Men’s National Team kicked off its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign Friday on home turf at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. It’s the first time in 32 years that the U.S. is hosting the World Cup, this time as one of three host nations alongside Canada and Mexico. 

The U.S. men’s team — which made it to the Round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia — was facing Paraguay in its opening match. The U.S. was leading 3-0 at halftime. 

This year’s U.S. team roster includes a mix of World Cup veterans and first-timers, with many players who have experience in top European leagues. They’ll have home field advantage and enjoy a growing fan base across the country.

“You’re playing for 330 million people. That’s a big deal. There’s added responsibility, added eyes. But at the same time, it’s the ultimate goal, the ultimate honor,” U.S. team captain Tim Ream told CBS News. 

“I have no doubt that we could potentially win,” he said.

The U.S. is in Group D and will play at least three games in the group stage in June. Their opponents and schedule are as follows: 

June 12: The U.S. faces Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, CaliforniaJune 17: The U.S. faces Australia at Seattle’s Lumen Field at 3 p.m. ETJune 25: The U.S. returns to SoFi to face Turkey at 10 p.m. ET

Next comes the knockout stage, which begins June 28. The top two teams from each group — plus the eight third-place teams with the most points — advance to the round of 32. 

If it advances, the U.S.’ opponent in the knockout stage will depend on the results of the group-stage games. 

If the U.S. finishes as the Group D winner, it will play on July 1 at 8 p.m. ET in Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

If it finishes as the Group D runner-up, it will play July 3 at 2 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. 

The round of 16 will be held from July 4 to July 7, and the quarterfinals will take place from July 9 to July 10. 

The semifinals will take place July 14, and the World Cup final will be on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. 

Overall, the World Cup will feature 48 teams and 104 matches over 39 days.

You can follow World Cup news and highlights throughout the tournament at CBSSports.com.