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During a nationally televised broadcast on January 4 on FOX and Telemundo that included an appearance by USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter, FIFA revealed the full tournament schedule, which will culminate with the final to be played in New York. New Jersey at MetLife Stadium. The quadrennial tournament will take place in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
The USMNT will begin its run through the tournament’s group stage at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on June 12, before heading to the West Coast for its second match at Lumen Field in Seattle on June 19, concluding play group with a return to SoFi. Stadium for a game on June 25.
Following the announcement, Berhalter spoke to national media about the U.S. group’s schedule, plans for preparation in 2026, including time at the National Training Center in Atlanta, and what it means for the New York native. Jersey that the World Cup final will be played in his hometown. courtyard.
Opening comments:
“It’s great to finally know where we will be for the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. It brings it to life and makes it exciting. We would have been happy in any of the venues because we know that the local support is going to be incredible in this World Cup. We know where we are and now we can start planning, which is a big part. We know from the last World Cup how important it is to get the environment right. We look forward to an incredible World Cup.”
About NY/NJ hosting the final:
“I mentioned that I think all the venues are going to be spectacular for the World Cup and that includes Canada and Mexico. It’s going to be a special World Cup to have the final in New York/New Jersey. It’s a dream come true for me to be from the area and I’m sure for most people in that area. It is an area with a rich football tradition and known for producing players. “To think about when I was little going to see the Cosmos and then selling out Giants Stadium and now this stadium is going to host a World Cup final, it’s really special.”
On not having to change time zones during the group stage:
“It’s important and that was a factor. It’s no secret that teams were able to provide FIFA with some feedback regarding venues, and our main advice was to try to minimize travel and minimize time zone changes because we know the wear and tear your body can take during a major tournament. ”.
On whether he had a preference for which area of the country he would play the group matches:
“All the stadiums are going to be fantastic, the support of all the fans is going to be fantastic and it will be an incredible World Cup. The only input was really trying to minimize travel, whether you’re on the east coast or the west coast. I think it gets complicated when you’re talking about four or five hour flights between games and different time zone changes. Ultimately, FIFA made the decision and we are very grateful that they at least asked for our opinion. I’m sure they did the same with Mexico and Canada. “It just shows that they are in tune with the host nations, which I think is important.”
About the conversations with FIFA and how many contributions they had:
“We had informal conversations with FIFA at various levels of their organization and then a final conversation with the technical department, just trying to determine what some of our needs were. We communicated it to him and it was finally left in his hands regarding the decisions. We are happy with the result. We hope to be in Los Angeles, a stadium that is probably one of the best in the world, and to be able to play there twice in the group stage. Then we’ll go to the Pacific Northwest, where I haven’t personally been as a coach. I’m looking forward to it because I remember the days when I played against the Seattle Sounders and the incredible fan support they have. I mentioned their famous ‘March to the Game’ to the stadium and I imagine us on the team bus driving around the city and seeing all the people. “I get goosebumps talking about it now, so it’s really exciting.”
On the planning that has already been done in terms of base camp and travel before the World Cup:
“We have already worked a lot at base camp. As you know, we are building a National Training Center, and it will be open before 2026. So one of our plans is to use our National Training Center, a state-of-the-art facility. I’m thinking about the guys who go there for the first time; It will leave you speechless. So, we’re going to use that and then somehow move to the west coast for the tournament and set up shop there. We see it as a dual-purpose thing, but we’ll probably be based in Southern California, go to the Seattle game, come back right after the game and finish the group in Los Angeles.”
On whether there were discussions or plans about where the U.S. qualifying games would be played if they advance:
“Good question. Again, I think the idea with all teams, not just the United States, Mexico or Canada, is that you take them to one place for the entire tournament and don’t have teams jumping all over the country. I’m guessing we’ll probably be heading towards the east coast as we progress through the tournament, so I think the time zone adjustment could be gradual and you’ll be able to experience some of the other big venue stadiums there are at the World Cup. ”.
On Los Angeles hosting eight World Cup matches and what that means for the area:
“That’s why so much is invested in a state-of-the-art stadium like that, to be able to host eight games. There are the United States’ two group stage matches, a quarterfinal and other matches that will have a huge impact on the World Cup results. Los Angeles is a melting pot of cultures, a group of different people coming together. “It is a great place to watch football and I am sure that during the 2026 World Cup it will be a great place.”
On lessons learned from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar that will be useful for 2026:
“The most important thing is from a competition perspective. We had 25 of 26 players make their World Cup debut in 2022. Now, heading into 2026, we will have guys who have been there before. That’s the most important thing: understanding what these games are like with the levels and the fine line between success and failure. Those are all key elements of the World Cup that we needed to learn. As a staff, in terms of the environment around the training ground and base camp, it is very important to get it right. You are in the same area for a long period of time, so you will have to plan carefully. Overall, how do we continue to build the team culture at base camp? How can we continue to have great training environments and then on game day what is that experience like? What are the stadiums like? “Those are all things to consider.”
On whether the USMNT’s various travel and opponent experiences over the past four years will give the team an advantage in the US:
“That’s certainly part of it. But I think the advantages will come only from the fans and the fans. It’s not just about the venues where we have games, but about having the entire country supporting us when we play. Having communities from all over the United States tune in is just an amazing feeling. We know how Americans support their teams, we know how Americans can host international events, so when you add those two things together, it’s going to be an incredible environment for our team. That is first. The second thing is that when you think about this long window, there is a lot more time between games. We will most likely use Atlanta before the start of the World Cup, which would be great to be in our own facility. We then headed west to attend the tournament. Hopefully we get back to the Atlanta area for the semifinals.”
On whether he is excited about World Cup promotion in his role as head coach:
“For me, the promotional piece is also about letting the public know our team between now and 2026, because they truly represent American diversity at its finest. When you think about our group, they are good guys, hardworking guys, guys who want nothing more than to make the nation proud. That would be my goal between now and the World Cup. “We want these guys to be household names and for the public to really know them as personalities and really get behind them and push them to be successful.”
On what the expanded World Cup to 48 teams will mean from the perspective of the competition and the fans:
“I think it’s fantastic for world football and growing the game. We have an initiative to grow soccer in the United States and the World Cup is going to help, and what 48 teams do in the World Cup is help that global reach. There will be 48 countries that will be deeply interested in how your team does in the World Cup. It will be a new and exciting format for a lot of people. There will be teams that have probably never been to a World Cup for the first time. So I think it’s exciting. What it will do for the group from a competitive perspective is yet to be determined. When we played Uzbekistan and Oman in September, one of the thoughts is that these could be qualified teams from Asia, so it’s great to start playing against them now. Playing against Ghana, an African team expected to be in the World Cup, is another. It will be interesting to see how that group expands and as we get the exact teams and see how the standings develop, we will be able to really game plan and scout our opponents in depth.”
On the importance of performing well when the World Cup comes to North America:
“The goal is always to perform very well and go as far as you can, and you always want to do well. We wanted to do very well in 2022 and if you look at it, we did well, but there are better levels to reach. Now, on our own soil, we know how much home fans can help and how they can boost the home team. For us it is about making our nation proud. When I think about the dreams our players had growing up, playing for local clubs in their communities and now playing for some of the biggest clubs in Europe, for them it’s an opportunity to grow the game. “One way to really grow the game and change soccer in America forever is to perform well and do something no American team has done before.”
On the appearances of Kevin Hart and FIFA President Gianni Infantino on the calendar announcement show:
“We’ve already sent Kevin Hart a tattoo that says ‘USA All the Way.’ [editor’s note: Hart joked about getting this tattoo during the show.] I think it just shows the global reach of football and how popular it is around the world. There are superstars who appear in the presentation of the final schedule and the group stage. Football is huge worldwide and everyone knows it. We are very excited for the public to get to know our team up close and personal and then truly experience what top level football is all about at this great tournament. The last time we hosted the men’s World Cup was in 1994. The women’s World Cup was in 2003. So, quite some time has passed and now I see this international event and all the people who come from abroad to the United States and really enjoy the show “It’s going to be special.”
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