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Can the US win the World Cup?
After announcing the World Cup draw plans, President Donald Trump asks FIFA President Gianni Infantino if he thinks the US team can win the World Cup next year. Here's what he had to say.
The group stage is set for the 2026 World Cup after a star-studded final draw Friday, leaving fans with plenty to look forward to in the six months leading up to the big tournament.
From playoffs that will determine the final six teams to international friendlies, here’s what’s next for the World Cup.
When does the World Cup start?
Timeline:
The 2026 World Cup will take place from June 11-July 19 in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
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It begins on June 11, 2026 with Mexico playing the opener against South Africa in Mexico City.
FIFA World Cup Trophy is displayed during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on December 05, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Mandel NGAN - Pool/Getty Images)
Games will be played at 11 NFL stadiums along with three in Mexico and two in Canada, where construction is underway to add 17,000 temporary seats to BMO Field, raising capacity to around 45,000. Attendance will top the record 3.59 million in 1994.
The U.S. will play Paraguay a day later on June 12 in Los Angeles.
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The group stage goes through June 27. The top two teams in each group, along with the eight best third-place finishers, will then go to the knockout stage. That stage begins June 28 with 32 teams.
When do more World Cup tickets go on sale?
What's next:
The next phase of ticket sales for the FIFA World Cup 2026 – the Random Selection Draw – will begin on Dec. 11, with the entry period for fans open until Jan. 13. This marks the third phase of ticket sales for the 2026 tournament. The Visa Presale Draw and the Early Ticket Draw closed in November.
What you can do:
To apply for the Random Selection Draw, you can visit FIFA’s ticket website starting Dec. 11, register for a FIFA ID, then be able to apply for tickets to specific matches.
In February, FIFA will randomly select applicants and let them know if they will get all or some of the tickets they applied for.
The final phase is in the spring, when "last-minute sales" will be available to the general public. It’s not clear how many tickets will be sold in this phase, or whether all matches will be available.
According to FIFA, nearly two million tickets have already been sold.
When will the final 6 teams be determined?
The final six teams for the 48-team tournament will be decided March 31, with 22 nations competing in playoffs for the final six berths. That includes No. 12-ranked Italy.
How much are World Cup tickets?
By the numbers:
FIFA announced initial ticket prices of $60-$6,730, saying they would be dynamic, up from $25-$475 for the 1994 tournament in the United States. It has refused to release a complete list of prices, as it had for every other World Cup since at least 1990. The governing body also is selling parking passes for up to $175 for a single match, a semifinal in Arlington, Texas.
US friendly schedule
Ahead of its World Cup opener on June 12, the U.S. will play a series of international friendly matches: two in Atlanta, one in Charlotte and one in Chicago.
Here’s the schedule:
- Saturday, March 28, 2026: USA vs. Belgium at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, 3:30 p.m. ET
- Tuesday, March 31, 2026: USA vs. Portugal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, 7 p.m. ET
- Sunday, May 31, 2926: USA vs. TBD at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, 3:30 p.m. ET
- Saturday, June 6, 2026: USA vs. Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, 2:30 p.m. ET
The Source: This report includes information from FIFA, The Associated Press and previous FOX TV Stations reporting.