2026 World Cup Draw: 5 nightmare teams the USMNT wants to avoid

Alex Freeman celebrates one of his two goals in a recent USMNT win over Uruguay. | Dustin Markland/GettyImagesThe 2026 World Cup will finally start to take shape on Friday with the draw that will determine the matchups for the Group Stage. The draw is a random but vital part of the World Cup journey for every team, including the USMNT.

As a co-host, the Americans have the benefit of being in Pot 1, which should help give Mauricio Pochettino’s side a favorable setup to advance to the Knockout Stage. However, that is far from a certainty, as there are plenty of good teams lurking outside of Pot 1. In anticipation of the draw, let’s look at five teams the U.S. is hoping won’t be placed in its…