LOS ANGELES — The 2026 FIFA World Cup officially took shape Friday with a star-studded draw led by Rio Ferdinand and assisted by Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge, Shaquille O’Neal and Tom Brady, setting the stage for the largest tournament in event history — and placing Los Angeles at the center of the action.
The United States, co-hosting the men’s World Cup for the first time in 32 years, landed in Group D and will open its campaign June 12 at SoFi Stadium against Paraguay, marking one of the most anticipated early matches of the tournament. The U.S., which has reached the round of 16 in four of its last five World Cup appearances, will then meet Australia on June 19 in Seattle before closing group play against the European playoff winner.
The first game in the USA at #FIFAWorldCup 2026! 🇺🇸🌎 pic.twitter.com/kzhdFHvzVB
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 5, 2025
SoFi Stadium, selected as a premier venue for the expanded 48-team tournament, will host multiple high-profile group-stage matchups. In addition to the U.S. opener, Los Angeles will showcase several global powers, including fixtures featuring Brazil, Germany, Spain and England, according to scheduling details released by FIFA and reported by multiple outlets. The venue — which hosted the 2022 Super Bowl and will serve as a key site for the 2028 Olympics — is expected to draw massive international crowds throughout the monthlong event.
Friday’s draw produced several compelling groups, including Brazil, Morocco, Haiti and Scotland in Group C, and a heavyweight Group I featuring France, Senegal, Norway and an intercontinental playoff winner, setting up the potential World Cup debut of Erling Haaland. Defending champion Argentina headlines Group J, while Portugal, led by 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo in what is expected to be his final World Cup, anchors Group K.
The tournament will span three host nations — the U.S., Mexico and Canada — with Los Angeles positioned as one of its signature stages. For the American squad, the road begins at home, under the bright lights of Inglewood, with expectations higher than ever and a global spotlight fixed squarely on Southern California.