3 opponents the USMNT should hope to not draw in 2026 World Cup group
Yahoo Sports Daily hosts Caroline Fenton and Jason Fitz are joined by soccer analyst and commentator Luis Miguel Echegaray to preview the 2026 World Cup draw and discuss which teams the U.S. men’s national team should hope to avoid in the group stage. Watch the full episode of Yahoo Sports Daily on YouTube or YahooSports.TV .
Video Transcript
What are, let's say, three teams that the United States should hope and pray will win?
Not land?
Yeah, Caroline, that's a great question and a reminder to everybody, Like I said, right, the U.S., alongside Mexico, and Canada, are in Part One.
And that means they're very lucky that in a group stage, they won't face Spain and La Mina Mao, they won't face Argentina and Messi; they won't face France or Mbapp Or England, so you know that's a good thing.
However, to your point, In part two, there are no slackers here.
There are some very good teams.
Teams, as well as Groups 3 and 4.
So, when I look at part two, I don't think the U.S. wants anything to do with Morocco.
Who became the first Arab and African nation to reach a semi-final in the World Cup back Qatar, in 2022.
This is a very good team that has won 18 straight matches in all competitions.
That's a record in international soccer.
So that's one of them in part two.
The other one, I think, is Colombia, Colombia.
A very good team and a reminder, everybody.
Because the World Cup is in the United States, right?
I think every team can argue they're the home side, and Colombia absolutely is.
Because, let me tell you, let's say the US plays Colombia, uh, You know, somewhere in the U.S. Do you think the US fan base will overwhelm the Colombian one?
No, I don't think so.
So you know you have to really pay attention to the fact that it's going to be a.
Tremendous amount of support for these teams .
The other one is Norway, by the way, uh, which is in part thirty, They're in Part 3, but they won every single game in qualifiers to reach the World Cup.
They have Erling Haaland, the Manchester City striker, who is basically a combination of Ohtani and Giannis as a soccer player.
This is one of the best strikers in game, And it's Norway in Part 3, so they don't want to face Them as well.
And then in Part 4, there might be some European Teams as well, uh, you know, like Italy, for example, but also Ghana.
A very strong African team and foe of the US MNT, as they faced each other in the past.
So even though the US won't play Spain's or Argentina's in the group stages, There are still a lot of really difficult teams to face.
I don't want them to see Morocco at all.
I mentioned it.
Norway, Ghana, but there's plenty more competitors.
Everybody, the U.S. M&T are looking good, but it's going to be really, Really interesting to see what happens.
And, by the way, Final note, right before the World Cup begins, they have just announced some friendlies.
Some warm-up games for the USM&T, and they're playing Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal team.
They're playing Germany.
These are good teams: Belgium, good teams that are going to test the United States right Before the World Cup.
