U.S. Draws Paraguay, Australia and UEFA Playoff Winner In World Cup Group

The United States Men’s National Team now knows its opponents for next summer’s World Cup, set to be held across the country and in parts of Mexico and Canada.

Mauricio Pochettino‘s side will open the tournament against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, followed by a trip to Seattle to face Australia. The U.S. will conclude the group stage against UEFA Playoff Winner C – the winner of the qualifying playoff to be contested in March between Turkey, Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo.

The draw, conducted at the John F. Kennedy Center on Friday afternoon, featured a variety of notable guests, including Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge and President Donald Trump.

Numerous celebrities performed throughout the ceremony, which also included FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarding Trump the first edition of the FIFA Peace Prize.

Mexico will play the first game of the tournament at the Estadio Azteca against South Africa, which is a rematch of the opening game of the 2010 edition that ended in a 1-1 draw. South Korea and the UEFA Playoff Winner D (Denmark, Czechia, Ireland or North Macedonia) are the other teams joining Group A.

North of the border, Canada‘s Group B consists of Switzerland and 2022 hosts Qatar. Jesse Marsch‘s side, like the USMNT, will have to wait until March to learn its other opponent, which will be either Italy, Wales, Northern Ireland or Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Elsewhere, reigning champions Argentina joined Group J alongside Algeria, Austria and debutants Jordan. Last edition’s finalists, France, will face Erling Haaland‘s Norway together with Senegal and the Intercontinental Playoff Winner 2 (Iraq, Bolivia or Suriname).

England will also face Croatia again in Group L, alongside Ghana and Panama. The Balkan nation knocked out the Three Lions in the semifinals in 2018. EURO 2024 winners Spain will face Uruguay, Saudi Arabia and debutants Cape Verde in Group H.