The U.S. men’s national team’s mark of progress is found not only with players on clubs competing in the UEFA Champions League but with them filling key roles in Europe’s top competition.
Featuring 18 matches kicking off simultaneously across the continent Wednesday, the dizzying final day of the 2025-26 league stage brought a two-goal performance from Bayer Leverkusen’s Malik Tillman and starting assignments for five other Americans.
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With places in the knockout stage hanging in the balance, five clubs employing U.S. World Cup roster candidates secured passage to the last 24 while two were knocked out.
None finished in the top eight, which would’ve earned a bye directly to the Round of 16. Tillman, Weston McKennie (Juventus), Johnny Cardoso (Atlético Madrid), Yunus Musah (Atalanta) and Folarin Balogun (Monaco) will compete in two-leg playoffs Feb. 17-18 and 24-25.
Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven) and Tim Weah (Olympique Marseille) were eliminated — the latter’s club on goal differential when Anatoliy Trubin, Benfica’s goalkeeper, headed in a free kick near the end of stoppage time for a 4-2 home victory over Real Madrid.
Had that match ended 3-2, Weah’s Marseille would’ve gone through. The French team had only itself to blame, though, after losing in Belgium to Club Brugge 3-0. In his sixth Champions League start, Weah played 90 minutes.
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The brightest performance came from Tillman, the 23-year-old attacking midfielder making his fifth Champions League start of the eight-game campaign. He charged Bayer Leverkusen’s 3-0 home victory over Villarreal with a sterling first half.
Using high pressure in the 12th minute, he pursued goalkeeper Arnau Tenas into the 6-yard box and deflected the attempted clearance into the net. Twenty-three minutes later, Tillman smashed in a wicked half-volley from the top of the penalty area.
The goals were his first in the Champions League since November 2024, when, while with PSV Eindhoven, he scored twice against Shakhtar Donetsk and once against Girona.
Tillman’s standing with the national team has dipped and risen since coach Mauricio Pochettino took the helm in October 2024. Last summer, his stock rose at the Concacaf Gold Cup with three goals and two assists in six starts for the runner-up Americans.
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In the only match pitting Americans against each other Wednesday, McKennie and Balogun went the distance during a 0-0 draw.
Of late, both players had been sensational in the Champions League. McKennie’s streak of goals in three consecutive matches ended Wednesday, and Balogun had scored in three straight before hitting a two-game drought.
Dest played 90 minutes for PSV, whose 2-1 home loss to second-place Bayern Munich sent it tumbling to 28th place and out of the competition.
In his first Champions League start in more than four months, Musah was replaced seven minutes into the second half as part of a triple switch during a 1-0 loss at Belgium’s Union Saint-Gilloise.
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Cardoso was the only U.S. player who didn’t start. In his third Champions League appearance of the season, he entered in the 64th minute of a 2-1 home loss to Norway’s Bodø/Glimt.
Thursday in the second-tier Europa League, U.S. midfielder Tanner Tessmann and first-place Olympique Lyonnais will attempt to clinch the top seed in the knockout stage when the French club hosts Greece’s PAOK.
Center back Auston Trusty and Celtic are clinging to the 24th and final place in the next round ahead of its critical finale at home against Dutch side Utrecht.
Having arrived in Canton, Ohio to attend the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement of former Patriots cornerback Ty Law, Belichick combed over the Hall’s historic collections for the better part of an entire weekend. He studied exhibits, archives and videos, spending hours in between with staff asking and answering questions. He then wandered through a vast expanse of bronze busts and plaques telling the story of how football has been shaped over more than a century.
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That same visit, Belichick shared his Canton love affair with his football team, bringing his players and staff in for a tour before heading to meet the Detroit Lions for a joint practice.
These were the kind of pilgrimages Belichick made during his youth, when he’d visit the Hall of Fame with his father, Steve, a former player, coach and scout who imparted upon Bill a granular reverence for football. Steve is in those HOF archives, written into history by virtue of one season with the Lions as a fullback in 1941. Someday, Bill will be enshrined among those busts, too.
As we have learned this week, that bust reportedly won’t be going up this summer. Belichick inexplicably missed the HOF cut on his first ballot appearance, failing to attain the necessary 40 of 50 votes for enshrinement. That means if Patriots owner Robert Kraft gets his much coveted “door knock” next week in Santa Clara, California, informing him of his entrance into the Hall, it will be an honor that came at the expense of leaving Belichick’s doorway silent.
Kraft may be in. Belichick apparently isn’t. And that could end up depriving both of one last jointly shared football victory. It’s a moment that, frankly, might have been able to douse the smoldering mess between them and heal some wounds. Now it threatens to become the deepest cut, with Kraft potentially going into the Hall of Fame ahead of Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, the two biggest football architects of a shared Patriots dynasty.
In reality, he may end up with a monumentally unfair opportunity at extending an extraordinary olive branch here. Not one that he asked for and not one that he should be burdened with. Certainly not one that anyone in football should expect. But it’s there nonetheless: If the Hall of Fame beckons him next week, Kraft could accept the honor, but decline his enshrinement until he and Belichick can enter together.
It would be an unprecedented moment in NFL history, of course. And also completely implausible and preposterous considering the rift that has developed between Kraft and Belichick. Not to mention an act of pure grace that would be cleaning up a vote that is being admonished by a multitude of HOF selectors.
Robert Kraft on Bill Belichick: “Whatever perceptions may exist about any personal differences between Bill and me, I strongly believe Bill Belichick’s record and body of work speak for themselves.” (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
(Boston Globe via Getty Images)
It would also be remarkable. To the point of elevating Kraft in a way that wins and trophies can’t.
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It’s not often we see NFL team owners deprive themselves of something they want. If anything, it’s the opposite, with their riches punctuated by superyachts, palatial homes, private jets, political influence, powerful friends and so many other lavish trappings of billionaire wealth. And to be fair, some extremely generous philanthropy, too. Kraft is among the league’s elite when it comes to giving, reportedly to nearly the tune of a billion dollars spread among multiple charities, foundations, causes and other well-intentioned pursuits. But league history has never seen a Hall of Fame candidate hit the pause button when presented with football immortality. It simply doesn’t happen. And if that’s not the kind of gesture from Kraft that could repair a rift with Belichick, one that was created and instigated by both men, then there isn’t a meaningful peace to be had between the two.
“Whatever perceptions may exist about any personal differences between Bill and me, I strongly believe Bill Belichick’s record and body of work speak for themselves,” Kraft said. “As head coach of the New England Patriots for more than two decades, he set the standard for on-field excellence, preparation, and sustained success in the free agency and salary cap era of the National Football League. He is the greatest coach of all time and he unequivocally deserves to be a unanimous first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.”
Brady, who has also had some chilly moments with Belichick, echoed the sentiments during an appearance on Seattle sports radio, telling the “Brock & Salk” show that “no coach” should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer if Belichick isn’t.
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“I don’t understand it,” Brady said Wednesday. “I was with him every day. If he’s not a first ballot Hall of Famer, there’s really no coach that ever should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Which is completely ridiculous because people deserve it. He’s incredible. There’s no coach I’d rather play for.”
“In the end, he’s going to get into the Hall of Fame,” Brady added. “I’m not worried about that. A lot of times in life — for all of life, for all of us, things don’t happen exactly how you want them or on your timeline. We’ll all be there to celebrate him when it does happen and he’s going to have a huge turnout from so many players, coaches, that appreciate everything that he did, and the commitment that he made to winning, and the impact that he had on our lives.”
While it means something to have Kraft and Brady endorse him, it would have been more meaningful to see the coach and franchise owner enter into the Hall of Fame together. Not for the gawking at potential awkwardness between them, but to memorialize what they achieved together. And to give each of them a moment to once again share an honor that is theirs individually but also collectively. To put on gold jackets that they earned for each other.
Whether Kraft gets in first or not, that’s a celebration they can still have. And maybe the squashing of differences comes through the passage of time and the opportunity to pay tribute to each other. First with Kraft honoring Belichick in his speech and then next with the team owner welcoming Belichick into the Hall of Fame next year. And then, in 2028, with both men welcoming Brady together.
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Given how much Kraft has wanted this honor, that’s likely the way this will go — with Kraft getting in and then advocating for voters to fix the mistake they made with Belichick. But there’s still a chance here for him to elevate himself in league and football history that would be unprecedented.
If he has the votes for entry, Kraft pausing his own enshrinement might be the gesture that meaningfully and forever repairs his relationship with Belichick. A forever moment for both — and for the Patriots — that’s worth the wait.
Matt Harmon and Justin Boone are back for another episode of the pod and to remind you that what happens in the NFL postseason matters for the 2026 fantasy season. The two share their biggest takeaways from the postseason that matter for the upcoming fantasy season. Harmon and Boone also dive into the fantasy mailbag to answer all your ‘Dynasty Debate’ questions.
(3:00) – Pod programming note: Yahoo Fantasy Forecast is going to the Super Bowl
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(6:15) 6 Playoff Takeaways for 2026 Fantasy Season
(38:40) Dynasty Debates Pt. 1
(49:30) Dynasty Debates Pt. 2
Matt Harmon and Justin Boone are back for another episode of the pod and to remind you that what happens in the NFL postseason matters for the 2026 fantasy season. The two share their biggest takeaways from the postseason that matter for the upcoming fantasy season. Harmon and Boone also dive into the fantasy mailbag to answer all your ‘Dynasty Debate’ questions.
How will Todd Monken boost the Cleveland Browns in the offseason as their new head coach? Yahoo Sports’ Andrew Siciliano is joined by Carolina Panthers long snapper J.J. Jansen, and The Athletic’s Austink Monk join the show to talk all things coaching cycle, Hall of Fame eligibility, Super Bowl and more! Check out today’s episode to get caught up the latest news and notes from around the league.
LeBron James scored 11 points Wednesday night in a 129-99 loss to the Cavaliers in what could be his final game in Cleveland, where the Akron native spent a total of 11 seasons across two stints earlier in his legendary career.
As for James, it didn’t take long for him to get on the board. The Lakers came in averaging 14.3 fast-break points per game but scored eight of those in the first quarter.
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Coming off his second game this season with at least 45 points and 12 assists, Luka Dončić set the tone in transition, finding James with throw-ahead passes for back-to-back buckets.
But then, a bit more than four minutes into the game, Dončić had an injury scare. While watching his 3-point attempt fly through the air and then bounce off the rim, he scooted back on one foot, his left one.
Dončić went too far, dropping off the edge of Rocket Arena’s elevated court, where the five-time All-NBA first-teamer then sat in discomfort as play continued. He received medical attention during the following Lakers timeout prior to limping to the locker room.
Dončić checked back in with 1:32 left in the frame and made a pair of free throws to help L.A. take a 28-24 lead into the second quarter. He finished with 29 points and six assists while shooting 12 of 20 from the field in just three quarters of action, as he rested in the fourth.
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Allen matched his season averages with 13 points and eight rebounds in the first half. Two of those points came on an alley-oop dunk served by Tyson, who already had three 3s by intermission.
Cleveland began the third quarter 7 of 8 from the field, stretching its lead to 76-63. Tyson dished a behind-the-head pass to Allen, who finished at the cup with a left-handed layup. Mitchell hit back-to-back 3s, then hung in the air to deliver a bounce pass to Dean Wade for the first of his two triples early in the frame.
Tyson gave a national audience a look inside his bag during the second half. To complement his outside shooting, he attacked the rim. Following up on an and-1 floater earlier in the third quarter, he drove baseline and dropped in a one-handed dunk.
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Ultimately, after a trio of De’Andre Hunter 3s, the Cavaliers closed the third quarter having outscored the Lakers 42-22.
Cleveland cruised to victory in the fourth, during which James appeared to roll his left ankle while landing on the foot of Lonzo Ball on his way down from a field-goal attempt.
James remained in the game but had little impact. With 8:23 to go and L.A. trailing by 28 points, Bronny James took the court. He slammed home a one-handed jam off a steal late in the blowout and then added two 3-pointers soon after, giving him eight points.
LeBron James was previously 9-3 as a visitor in Cleveland. And in his 24 prior games against the Cavaliers, he had averaged 28.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 7.1 assists.
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He didn’t have his best stuff in this homecoming, but he felt all the emotions and cracked a smile when his son threw down a highlight-reel dunk on the break to the tune of a celebratory crowd in an arena the four-time league MVP and four-time NBA champion started building his legacy.
The first of them came forward Wednesday, a day after news broke that the New England Patriots legend had missed out on making the Hall. That would be Kansas City Star columnist Vahe Gregorian, the representative of the Kansas City Chiefs media contingent.
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In a column published at the Star, Gregorian explained his reasons for not supporting Belichick. And they had nothing to do with Spygate and Deflategate, the scandals that have been widely reported to be a major reason for Belichick’s exclusion.
Hall of Fame voter thinks Bill Belichick belongs in the Hall of Fame, but didn’t vote for him
From the beginning, Gregorian says he actually does think Belichick belongs in the Hall of Fame.
To be fair, some other anti-Belichick voters might agree. It was initially suggested in the ESPN article breaking the news that Belichick missed out on the honor because some felt he should simply have to wait a year as penance for his cheating scandals. However, Gregorian said the matter of Spygate and Deflategate didn’t affect his vote at all:
ESPN’s piece heavily suggests that Deflategate and Spygate and “politics” led to this situation, and it quotes a veteran Hall voter as saying, “The only explanation (for the outcome) was the cheating stuff. It really bothered some of the guys.”
Perhaps that affected some voters, perhaps not. I can’t and won’t try to speak for others, and it’s a condition of being a voter to not divulge the deliberations.
But the so-called “cheating stuff” is not at all the only possible explanation. Because it certainly didn’t ultimately influence my vote.
So why didn’t Gregorian vote for Belichick?
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He said he simply had other people he was worrying about making the Hall, with too few votes to go around. Some thought this might be the case.
You can learn more about the matter here, but the situation breaks down as Belichick being one of five non-modern player candidates up for a vote. The other four were Patriots owner Robert Kraft, in the contributor category, and three senior player candidates: Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood.
The rub for Gregorian and other voters was that due to recently instituted Hall of Fame rules, voters could only vote for, at most, three of those five, creating a situation where five men each needed 40 votes from a room where there were only 150 total votes to go around.
Obviously, Belichick had a strong case to receive a full third of those votes.
We’re slowly learning why Bill Belichick wasn’t voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Bill Wippert)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
The way Gregorian puts it, he was much more concerned about the trio of senior players, whom he said have been “snubbed for decades” and might not get another chance at the ballot due to a backlog of senior players. So he voted for the three players, with the assumption that Belichick will be back next year and they won’t:
All of that went into why I felt duty-bound to vote for the richly deserving seniors, who most likely won’t ever have a hearing again as more senior candidates enter the pool and fresh cases get made for others.
Meanwhile, Belichick is inevitable soon … as he should be. At the risk of contradicting my own vote, really, he shouldn’t even have to wait. I understand why people are offended that he isn’t going in the first moment he can.
In the end, though, I felt more compelled by what I perceive to be last chances and looming lost causes within the system as we have it — a system I hope the Hall will see fit to change now.
It’s not quite that simple, though. Belichick sure seems like a lock to make it next year, especially after this firestorm, but that will be at the expense of another contributor and set of senior players. Pushing back Belichick in favor of Anderson, Craig and Greenwood simply kicks the can down the road.
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Gregorian’s reasoning reflects a critical issue with the new Hall of Fame voting, in which voters don’t vote “yes” or “no” on a candidate so much as “this guy” or “that guy.” He’s not alone in having an issue.
Some Bill Belichick voters agree Hall of Fame voting needs fixing
Some of them are annoyed the result got leaked. Some of them are understandably annoyed about being harassed for something their colleagues did. And some of them are annoyed with the new rules that created this situation.
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A sample of the latter:
Ultimately, Belichick’s snub has said far more about the Hall of Fame than Belichick’s legacy. It’s hard to imagine this isn’t going to cause the Hall to re-evaluate its rules when it comes to coaches.
Some voters definitely went against Belichick due to Spygate
While Gregorian had his reasons, it should be noted there were definitely voters who voted against Belichick due to Spygate. We simply haven’t had any of them come forward yet.
Clearly, there were multiple reasons to go against Belichick. Most observers just don’t think they are good reasons. Some have even speculated there might have been some grudges against Belichick in the room, though rejecting him out of revenge for being grumpy with the media would be spectacularly self-defeating considering how much more heat is on the voters right now.
The Los Angeles Chargers are bringing back Chris O’Leary to fill their last open coordinator position.
The Chargers struck a deal with O’Leary to make him their next defensive coordinator on Wednesday night. O’Leary, who was most recently the defensive coordinator at Western Michigan, spent the 2024 campaign as the Chargers’ safeties coach under Jim Harbaugh.
O’Leary will replace Jesse Minter, who left last week to take over as the Baltimore Ravens’ next head coach. Minter will replace Harbaugh’s brother, John, who split with the Ravens after 18 seasons running that franchise.
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O’Leary got his coaching start at Notre Dame, where he first worked as a graduate assistant before working his way up. After his single season in the NFL with the Chargers, O’Leary went back to the college ranks and took over as Western Michigan’s defensive coordinator last fall. The Broncos went 10-4 last season and picked up a MAC title. They finished second in scoring defense in the league, too.
O’Leary is now the second new coordinator Harbaugh has picked up in recent days. The Chargers hired Mike McDaniel as their next offensive coordinator after he was fired as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. The Chargers went 11-6 last season but just missed out on the playoffs in Harbaugh’s first campaign leading the franchise.
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While the Chargers will have two new faces running things next season, and this will be O’Leary’s first stint as a defensive coordinator in the league, Harbaugh is clearly comfortable enough with him to hand over the reins.
Jessica Pegula’s pursuit of her first Grand Slam win is going to have to wait a little longer. Despite once again playing some excellent tennis, Pegula fell short of winning her first major, losing in straight sets (6-3, 7-6) to Elena Rybakina in the semifinals at the 2026 Australian Open.
It was a familiar story for Rybakina, who has used a dominant serve to power through opponents at the event. She managed six aces vs. Pegula, which was actually a disappointing result after Rybakina put up 11 aces against Iga Swiatek and 10 aces against Elise Mertens en route to the semis.
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But those aces — along with a few mistakes from Pegula — proved to be enough to push past the American.
It marked the second time in her career that Rybakina has reached the Australian Open final. She accomplished that feat back in 2023, where she fell to Aryna Sabalenka.
During her career, the 26-year-old Rybakina has one Grand Slam win under her belt. She picked up that victory at Wimbledon in 2022, where she defeated Ons Jabeur in the final.
While it’s been an impressive tournament for Rybakina so far, she indicated that she might try and get some time away from the court ahead of Saturday’s final.
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For Pegula, the loss marks yet another late exit in a major. Since 2021, Pegula has played some of her best tennis. Over that period, she’s reached six quarterfinals, two semifinals and one final at majors. She’s peaked as high as No. 3 in the singles rankings … but is still seeking her first Grand Slam title.
Pegula has reached the semifinal round at each of her last two majors, so perhaps the third time will be a charm when she participates in the French Open in May.
Aryna Sabalenka in the Australian Open final once again
Another year, another appearance in the Australian Open final for Aryna Sabalenka. The Belarusian punched her ticket to the final for her fourth-straight year, taking down Elina Svitolina in straight sets (6-2, 6-3) Thursday.
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There was a moment early on when it looked like Sabalenka could be thrown off her game. With the first set 2-1 in favor of Sabalenka, she was called for hindrance after making a noise following one of her returns.
While Sabalenka had a few words with the umpire about the call, it didn’t distract her from her ultimate task. She was able to get back on track, making quick work of Svitolina in the semis.
With the win, Sabalenka will now attempt to win her third Australian Open in the past four years. She won the event in both 2023 and 2024, but fell to American Madison Keys in the 2025 final.
Sabalenka’s opponent this time around should be familiar, however, as the two have met in the Australian Open final before. In 2023, Sabalanka took down Rybakina in a match that went the full three sets. Sabalenka was actually down in the match, dropping the first set to Rybakina, but was able to rally and win the final two sets to secure her first Australian Open title.
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Picking up a repeat win in the final could prove tough for Sabalenka. Despite being the women’s No. 1, Sabalenka has struggled against Rybakina in the past. In 14 head-to-head matches, Sabalenka holds a narrow 8-6 record against Rybakina.
That should set up an exciting match when both players take the court for the women’s final Saturday.
There was never any real doubt the PGA Tour would welcome back LIV Golf’s alpha dogs like Brooks Koepka with Rose Bowl parade-level celebrations. What’s interesting is that the Tour has also just outlined a pathway back for the rest of the LIV field, and that could have a dramatic impact on the suddenly reignited rivalry between the two golf tours.
Tucked deep inside a letter to PGA Tour membership on the occasion of Patrick Reed’s return, there’s a significant line meant for any LIV player who might be thinking of defecting. In the letter, Tour chief competitions officer Tyler Dennis and chief player officer Jason Gore note that Reed is eligible to rejoin the Tour one year after playing in his most recent unauthorized (i.e. LIV) event.
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The final LIV event ended Aug. 24, 2025, and thus Reed is eligible to begin playing in PGA Tour events on Aug. 25, 2026. Three other former LIV players also have begun the process of working their way back toward the Tour: Kevin Na, Pat Perez and Hudson Swafford.
The specifics of how, why and when each player will be eligible to play on the Tour are buried in layers of bureaucrat-ese, but here’s the key line: “To be clear, reinstatement terms are not negotiated or modified on a player‑by‑player basis.”
The implicit message is this: The rules have changed. Look carefully at the dates for the return of Reed and the rest. Note that there’s a one-year cooling-down period. And then think very, very carefully if you want to play in that LIV Golf tournament in Riyadh that starts February 4, 2026 … as opposed to the one that ended in Michigan on August 24, 2025.
The PGA Tour is striking a markedly different tone with LIV Golf now under new CEO Brian Rolapp than under his predecessor Jay Monahan. Where Monahan once went so far as to invoke 9/11 in his criticism of players who defected to LIV, Rolapp’s Tour now uses the phrase “welcoming back” — a marked difference in both tone and strategy.
After four seasons on the LIV tour, Patrick Reed is returning to the PGA Tour in August. (Warren Little/Getty Images)
(Warren Little via Getty Images)
But, of course, one can smile while pressing their advantage. The PGA Tour is now approaching the LIV Golf situation like an aggressive poker player, except instead of money — where LIV still rules by orders of magnitude — the Tour is leaning hard into its dominance in the areas of tradition, pathways to the majors, and competitive environments.
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Barring a late shock, there won’t be any more stunning LIV defections. Gore and Dennis noted in their letter to players that outside of Koepka, the Tour doesn’t expect any more of LIV’s big guns — that would be Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cam Smith — to return before their window closes on Feb. 2.
Smith appears more than satisfied with the way LIV is flourishing in his native Australia. DeChambeau stands to become one of the richest athletes in history with his newfound leverage. Rahm’s motivations for staying with LIV may be team-related, or they may be contract-related. He didn’t seem overly enthusiastic during LIV’s recent season-opening press conference. Perhaps that’s reading too much into his body language. Perhaps not.
The departures of Reed and Koepka don’t signal the end of LIV Golf; even if DeChambeau and Rahm pulled up stakes, the circuit would continue for the short term. LIV has quietly pivoted to a long-game strategy, focusing on international markets over American ones.
At the same time, LIV is intercepting promising young players, like Northern Ireland prodigy Tom McKibbin and 2025 NCAA champion Michael La Sasso, before they can make names for themselves on the PGA Tour.
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Plenty of players have indicated they’re quite happy on the LIV tour, expressing much more public enthusiasm than Rahm and DeChambeau have. Not everyone hews to the Tour’s brand of tradition and management style. And LIV has also introduced a series of new competition formats designed specifically to gain the approval of the Official World Golf Rankings — announced, coincidentally enough, right when Reed tendered his public resignation from the league.
If LIV players will have a direct, rankings-dictated pathway to the majors, the allure of a life-changing paycheck is that much more compelling to young players and journeymen. But for now, LIV players who are considering a route back to the PGA Tour know what will be required … and they know the clock is ticking to make a decision for 2026.
The final draw is complete, and we now know the group stage opponents for each of the qualified teams for the 2026 World Cup.
On Friday at the Kennedy Center in Washington, United States president Donald Trump, Mexico president Claudia Sheinbaum and Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney, along with Tom Brady, Wayne Gretzky, Aaron Judge and Shaquille O’Neal, assisted in the draw process to shape the 12, four-team groups that will compete next summer in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
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The United States, having automatically qualified as one of the tournament hosts, was already slotted into Group D. It will begin its tournament June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles against Paraguay. The Americans will then play Australia before finishing the group stage against the winner of European playoff C, which could be Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo.
Canada has been placed into Group B and will open against the winner of European playoff C — one of Italy, Northern Ireland, Wales or Bosnia and Herzegovina — June 12 at BMO Field in Toronto. Its final two group stage games will be against Qatar and Switzerland.
Mexico gets the honor of hosting the opening match of the World Cup on June 11 against South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The co-hosts will also face Korea and the winner of European playoff D — Denmark, North Macedonia, Czechia, or Ireland — in Group A.
World Cup 2026 format
Overall, there will be 16 teams from Europe, nine teams from Africa, eight teams from Asia, six teams from North America, six teams from South America and one team from Oceania taking part in the 2026 World Cup.
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There have been 12 qualifiers so far from Europe, leaving four places up for grabs during the March playoff matches. The Intercontinental Playoffs, also in March, will feature two teams from North America, one from Asia, one from Africa, one from South America, and one from Oceania vying for two spots.
Teams will play against one another in three group games to determine the countries that will advance to the knockout round stage.
There will be 32 teams advancing to the knockout round following the group stage. The top two teams from each group will move on along with the eight best third-place teams. Tiebreakers will consist of (in order) goal differential, goals scored, head-to-head play, fair play record and then drawing of lots.
For this World Cup, FIFA has made tweaks. In the pursuit of competitive balance, two pathways have been created to the semifinals that will prevent the two highest-ranking teams from meeting before the final should they win their respective groups. As an example, Spain is the highest-ranked team in the tournament, with defending champion Argentina ranked second. Those two nations will be drawn into opposite pathways. The same will go for France (No. 3) and England (No. 4) so the top four teams, should they win their groups, will not meet until the semifinals.
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As with all World Cups, teams from the same confederation (example: Brazil and Uruguay) were unable to be drawn into the same group, except for those from Europe.
World Cup 2026 groups, match schedule
(all times Eastern)
GROUP A 1. Mexico 2. South Africa 3. Korea Republic 4. European playoff D winner (Denmark/North Macedonia/Czechia/Ireland)
Thu, June 11, 3 p.m. (FOX): Mexico vs. South Africa, Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) Thu, June 11, 10 p.m. (FS1): Korea Republic vs. European playoff D winner, Estadio Akron (Guadalajara, Mexico) Thu, June 18, 12 p.m. (FOX): European playoff D winner vs. South Africa, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) Thu, June 18, 9 p.m. (FOX): Mexico vs. Korea Republic, Estadio Akron (Guadalajara, Mexico) Wed, June 24, 9 p.m. (FOX): European playoff D winner vs. Mexico, Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) Wed, June 24, 9 p.m. (FS1): South Africa vs. Korea Republic, Estadio BBVA (Monterrey, Mexico)
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GROUP B 1. Canada 2. European playoff A winner (Italy/Northern Ireland/Wales/Bosnia and Herzegovina) 3. Qatar 4. Switzerland
Fri, June 12, 3 p.m. (FOX): Canada vs. European playoff A winner, BMO Field (Toronto) Sat, June 13, 3 p.m. (FOX): Qatar vs. Switzerland, Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California) Thu, June 18, 3 p.m. (FOX): Switzerland vs. European playoff A winner, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) Thu, June 18, 6 p.m. (FS1): Canada vs. Qatar, BC Place (Vancouver) Wed, June 24, 3 p.m. (FOX): Switzerland vs. Canada, BC Place (Vancouver) Wed, June 24, 3 p.m. (FS1): European playoff A winner vs. Qatar, Lumen Field (Seattle)
GROUP C 1. Brazil 2. Morocco 3. Haiti 4. Scotland
Sat, June 13, 6 p.m. (FS1): Brazil vs. Morocco, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Sat, June 13, 9 p.m. (FS1): Haiti vs. Scotland, Gillette Stadium (Foxboro, Massachusetts) Fri, June 19, 6 p.m. (FOX): Scotland vs. Morocco, Gillette Stadium (Foxboro, Massachusetts) Fri, June 19, 9 p.m. (FOX): Brazil vs. Haiti, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) Wed, June 24, 6 p.m. (FOX): Scotland vs. Brazil, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) Wed, June 24, 6 p.m. (FS1): Morocco vs. Haiti, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the United States, attends the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw at John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Dec. 5, 2025, in Washington. (Photo by Hector Vivas – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
(Hector Vivas – FIFA via Getty Images)
GROUP D 1. United States 2. Paraguay 3. Australia 4. European playoff C winner (Türkiye/Romania/Slovakia/Kosovo)
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Fri, June 12, 9 p.m. (FOX): United States vs. Paraguay, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) Sat, June 13, 12 a.m. (FS1): Australia vs. European playoff C winner, BC Place (Vancouver) Fri, June 19, 12 a.m. (FS1): European playoff C winner vs. Paraguay, Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California) Fri, June 19, 3 p.m. (FOX): United States vs. Australia, Lumen Field (Seattle) Thu, June 25, 10 p.m. (FOX): European playoff C winner vs. United States, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) Thu, June 25, 10 p.m. (FS1): Paraguay vs. Australia, Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
GROUP E 1. Germany 2. Curaçao 3. Ivory Coast 4. Ecuador
Sun, June 14, 1 p.m. (FOX): Germany vs. Curaçao, NRG Stadium (Houston) Sun, June 14, 7 p.m. (FS1): Ivory Coast vs. Ecuador, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) Sat, June 20, 4 p.m. (FOX): Germany vs. Ivory Coast, BMO Field (Toronto) Sat, June 20, 8 p.m. (FS1): Ecuador vs. Curaçao, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri) Thu, June 25, 4 p.m. (FS1): Curaçao vs. Ivory Coast, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) Thu, June 25, 4 p.m. (FOX): Ecuador vs. Germany, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey)
GROUP F 1. Netherlands 2. Japan 3. European playoff B winner (Ukraine/Sweden/Poland/Albania) 4. Tunisia
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Sun, June 14, 4 p.m. (FOX): Netherlands vs. Japan, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) Sun, June 14, 10 p.m. (FS1): European playoff B winner vs. Tunisia, Estadio BBVA (Monterrey, Mexico) Sat, June 20, 1 p.m. (FOX): Netherlands vs. European playoff B winner, NRG Stadium (Houston) Sat, June 20, 12 a.m. (FS1): Tunisia vs. Japan, Estadio BBVA (Monterrey, Mexico) Thu, June 25, 7 p.m. (FS1): Japan vs. European playoff B winner, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) Thu, June 25, 7 p.m. (FOX): Tunisia vs. Netherlands, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri)
GROUP G 1. Belgium 2. Egypt 3. Iran 4. New Zealand
Mon, June 15, 3 p.m. (FOX): Belgium vs. Egypt, Lumen Field (Seattle) Mon, June 15, 9 p.m. (FS1): Iran vs. New Zealand, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) Sun, June 21, 3 p.m. (FS1): Belgium vs. Iran, SoFi Stadium (Inglewood, California) Sun, June 21, 9 p.m. (FS1): New Zealand vs. Egypt, BC Place (Vancouver) Fri, June 26, 11 p.m. (FS1): Egypt vs. Iran, Lumen Field (Seattle) Fri, June 26, 11 p.m. (FOX): New Zealand vs. Belgium, BC Place (Vancouver)
GROUP H 1. Spain 2. Cape Verde 3. Saudi Arabia 4. Uruguay
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Mon, June 15, 12 p.m. (FOX): Spain vs. Cape Verde, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) Mon, June 15, 6 p.m. (FS1): Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) Sun, June 21, 12 p.m. (FOX): Spain vs. Saudi Arabia, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta) Sun, June 21, 6 p.m. (FS1): Uruguay vs. Cape Verde, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) Fri, June 26, 8 p.m. (FS1): Cape Verde vs. Saudi Arabia, NRG Stadium (Houston) Fri, June 26, 8 p.m. (FOX): Uruguay vs. Spain, Estadio Akron (Guadalajara, Mexico)
GROUP I 1. France 2. Senegal 3. Intercontinental Playoff winner 2 (Iraq/Bolivia/Suriname) 4. Norway
Tue, June 16, 3 p.m. (FOX): France vs. Senegal, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Tue, June 16, 6 p.m. (FOX): IC Playoff winner 2 vs. Norway, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts) Mon, June 22, 5 p.m. (FOX): France vs. IC Playoff winner 2, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia) Mon, June 22, 8 p.m. (FOX): Norway vs. Senegal, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Fri, June 26, 3 p.m. (FOX): Norway vs. France, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts) Fri, June 26, 3 p.m. (FS1): Senegal vs. IC Playoff winner 2, BMO Field (Toronto)
Lionel Messi and Argentina are the reigning World Cup champions after defeating France in the 2022 final. (Photo by Daniel Jayo/Getty Images)
(Daniel Jayo via Getty Images)
GROUP J 1. Argentina 2. Algeria 3. Austria 4. Jordan
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Tue, June 16, 9 p.m. (FOX): Argentina vs. Algeria, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri) Tue, June 16, 12 a.m. (FS1): Austria vs. Jordan, Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California) Mon, June 22, 1 p.m. (FOX): Argentina vs. Austria, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) Mon, June 22, 11 p.m. (FS1): Jordan vs. Algeria, Levi’s Stadium (Santa Clara, California) Sat, June 27, 10 p.m. (FOX): Jordan vs. Argentina, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) Sat, June 27, 10 p.m. (FS1): Algeria vs. Austria, Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City, Missouri)
GROUP K 1. Portugal 2. Intercontinental Playoff winner 1 (Congo/Jamaica/New Caledonia) 3. Uzbekistan 4. Colombia
Fri, June 17, 1 p.m. (FOX): Portugal vs. IC Playoff winner 1, NRG Stadium (Houston) Fri, June 17, 10 p.m. (FS1): Uzbekistan vs. Colombia, Estadio Azteca (Mexico City) Tue, June 23, 1 p.m. (FOX): Portugal vs. Uzbekistan, NRG Stadium (Houston) Tue, June 23, 10 p.m. (FS1): Colombia vs. IC Playoff winner 1, Estadio Akron (Guadalajara, Mexico) Sat, June 27, 7:30 p.m. (FOX): Colombia vs. Portugal, Hard Rock Stadium (Miami) Sat, June 27, 7:30 p.m. (FS1): IC Playoff winner 1 vs. Uzbekistan, Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta)
GROUP L 1. England 2. Croatia 3. Ghana 4. Panama
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Fri, June 17, 4 p.m. (FOX): England vs. Croatia, AT&T Stadium (Arlington, Texas) Fri, June 17, 7 p.m. (FS1): Ghana vs. Panama, BMO Field (Toronto) Tue, June 23, 4 p.m. (FOX): England vs. Ghana, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Massachusetts) Tue, June 23, 7 p.m. (FOX): Panama vs. Croatia, BMO Field (Toronto) Sat, June 27, 5 p.m. (FOX): Panama vs. England, MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, New Jersey) Sat, June 27, 5 p.m. (FS1): Croatia vs. Ghana, Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia)
2026 World Cup odds
According to BetMGM, Spain is the favorite to lift the World Cup trophy at MetLife Stadium on July 12. The 2010 champions — and 2030 co-hosts with Morocco and Portugal — are +400 to win the tournament for the second time.
England is next at +600, followed by France (+650), Brazil (+750) and reigning champion Argentina (+800).
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The United States is currently listed at +6600 to win the 2026 World Cup.
Who is in this year’s ‘Group of Death?’
Look no further than Group I for the 2026 edition of the “Group of Death.” France, Senegal, Norway and one of Bolivia, Suriname or Iraq will battle it out to advance to the knockout stage.
There are some interesting matchups in Group I. For starters, France and Senegal will meet in the opening match for both countries, which will bring back memories of when these two met at the 2002 World Cup, which saw Senegal secure a stunning 1-0 win.
Erling Haaland will lead Norway in its first World Cup since 1998 and will provide tough opposition when it goes up against Kylian Mbappé and France in a battle of global superstars.
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Group L will provide stiff competition with England, Croatia, Ghana, and Panama.
Who is likely to advance from each group?
Group A: Co-hosts Mexico are the favorites and Korea Republic have advanced out of the Round of 16 twice since 2010. But what could change the complexion of this group is which European team emerges from the playoff.
Group B: Host countries traditionally fare well and Canada has to be happy with its draw. Italy or Wales qualifying for this group could make things interesting and potentially a tougher time if only two knockout stage spots are available.
Group C: Brazil are overwhelming favorites to win the group, but after a proud showing in 2022, it will be interesting to see how Morocco has developed after a semifinal run in Qatar. The Scots qualified in dramatic fashion and should be buoyed by a fanbase that’s been waiting since 1998 to get back to a World Cup.
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Group D: The U.S. loves its draw, facing two teams it beat in friendlies this fall. They last faced Türkiye in June, a 2-1 defeat, but Ay-Yıldızlılar have to get through a playoff that features Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo.
Group E: Germany is looking to move past two straight disappointing World Cups where they failed to advance out of the group stage. The last time they did that was in 2014 when they beat Lionel Messi and Argentina in the final.
Group F: The Dutch reached the quarterfinals in 2022, but exited at the hands of eventual champion Argentina after penalties. They should not struggle here. The fun will come as Japan, Tunisia and playoff qualifier Ukraine, Sweden, Poland, or Albania battle it out for the second, and maybe a third, knockout round spot.
Group G: Belgium may not longer have a “golden generation,” but they still have plenty of talent to make a run. Mohamed Salah and Egypt are back at the World Cup after last participating in 2018. They’ve only advanced out of the group stage once — 1934.
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Group H: After Spain and Uruguay were drawn first, this had “Group of Death” vibes. But with Saudi Arabia and Cape Verde rounding out the group, this will likely come down to whether a third team can qualify.
Erling Haaland and Norway will take part in the country’s first World Cup since France 1998. (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
(Image Photo Agency via Getty Images)
Group I: The “Group of Death?” Most likely. France should get through, but they will be challenged by Erling Haaland and Norway and Senegal, who famously beat them in 2002.
Group J: Argentina should not have a problem getting their title defense off to a good start here. Austria and Algeria will likely be the countries fighting to see who joins Lionel Messi and Co. in the knockout round.
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Group K: Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal have an easy path to the Round of 32. Colombia, after a strong showing in CONMEBOL qualifying, should be fine, leaving Uzbekistan and one of Congo, Jamaica or New Caledonia on the outside.
Group L: Another potential “Group of Death” has England and Croatia fighting it out for the top spot, but don’t discount Ghana, who always provide a tough test after making four out of the past five World Cups.
Here’s how the 2026 World Cup draw played out via our live blog:
Live coverage is over71 updates
GROUP F
Ukraine or Sweden vs. Poland or Albania
GROUP K
Congo vs. New Caledonia or Jamaica
GROUP D
Slovakia or Kosovo vs. Türkiye or Romania
GROUP I
Iraq vs. Bolivia or Suriname
GROUP B
Wales or Bosnia-Herzegovina vs. Italy or Northern Ireland
GROUP A
Czech Republic or Ireland vs. Denmark or North Macedonia
