What to know about the USMNT in advance of the World Cup

The FIFA World Cup 2026TM begins this June, and American fans have much to look forward to. The United States Mens National Team (USMNT) generated lots of excitement four years ago, when the American men made it to the Round of 16 in Qatar before falling to the Netherlands.

As this year's squad prepares to take to the pitch in their opening round matchup with Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, fans again have much to look forward to and a lot to learn about the latest iteration of the American team.

· The USMNT has a new coach. The USMNT was led by coach Gregg Berhalter in 2022, but this year's term will be led by Mauricio Pochettino, a familiar face to fans of international soccer. Pochettino has coached some of the most recognizable clubs in the world, with stints at Tottenham, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea on his resume. In 2019, Pochettino led Tottenham to the storied franchise's first ever Champions League final, a run that should inspire American fans hoping to see the USMNT make a deep run this summer.

· The USMNT is playing at home for the first time in decades. This year will mark the return of the FIFA World Cup to American soil for the first time since 1994. The United States is sharing hosting duties with Mexico and Canada this time around, but the majority of the fixtures will be played in the U.S., providing fans plenty of opportunities to see the USMNT compete in person.

· The USMNT is looking to defy odds. As noted, the USMNT advanced to the Round of 16 in Qatar four years ago, and fans are expecting a similar, if not better, run this summer. But the World Football Elo Ratings, which ranks all 48 teams after adjusting for opponent, location and previous competition, has the USMNT ranked 32nd overall. That means the USMNT might have an uphill battle this summer as it seeks to build on its run to the Round of 16 four years ago.

· The USMNT has a notable match prior to the World Cup. The USMNT roster for the 2026 World Cup will be made official in May, and a June 6 competition versus Germany could give fans a glimpse of what's to come once the World Cup begins five days later. Germany is a four-time World Cup Final winner and ranked 11th in the World Football Elo Ratings. That makes the German squad a good litmus test for the Americans. That last-minute tuneup will take place June 6 at Soldier Field in Chicago.

The summer of 2026 figures to be an especially exciting time for American soccer fans, many of whom are hoping the USMNT makes a deep run in the first World Cup to take place in the U.S. in 32 years.