RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – The United States (U.S.) national team will play its 12th World Cup at home as it hosts the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico. Having previously hosted this prestigious tournament in 1994 and now the U.S. team is determined to improve on their 2022 World Cup performance, when they were eliminated in the round 16 by the Netherlands.

Spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta, Jamie Ravetz, said the U.S. team will return stronger in this World Cup. “They'll have greater chemistry this time. They'll have had more experience in the world's strongest and toughest leagues: Champions League, Premier League, Eredivisie, Bundesliga. This experience, in theory, should make them stronger,” he said in a recent episode of Voice of Indonesia’s World Cup program, Deep Talk: Soccer Fiesta!

He added that the success of the U.S. men’s national team will largely depend on the performances of its key players, including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams. Their leadership, defense, and playmaking will be key to the team’s success.

In the 2026 World Cup, the Stars & Stripes are in Group D with Paraguay, Turkey, and Australia, with their first match against Paraguay on June 12 at Los Angeles Stadium. After that, the team under the guidance of coach Mauricio Pochettino will face Australia on June 19 and wrap up their group stage against Turkey, making their third World Cup appearance, on June 25.

When asked about the advantages of hosting the World Cup, Ravetz said it is an opportunity to showcase the great things of the U.S. “It’s an opportunity to highlight all that we have to offer: the infrastructure, the hospitality, the tourism opportunities—everything that makes our country great,” he stated.

According to the U.S. Department of State's website, eleven U.S. cities will host 78 matches including the final in the New York New Jersey Stadium. The tournament features an expanded 48-team format with 104 matches in total.

The 2026 World Cup is the first tournament in history to be jointly hosted by three nations: Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The opening ceremony took place at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on Thursday, June 11, featuring music, dance, and artistic performances, including the official 2026 World Cup theme song, “Dai Dai,” by Shakira and Burna Boy.