The 2026 FIFA World Cup will kick off in about one month, jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada [1, 2, 3]. The US Men's National Soccer Team (USMNT) will open its group stage against Paraguay on June 12 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles [1, 3].
Tyler Adams, 27, the USMNT captain and midfielder, is preparing for his second World Cup after debuting in Qatar in 2022 [1, 2, 3]. Adams said soccer "brings everybody together no matter the situation," praising its global reach and diversity. "That’s something I gravitated towards when I wanted to play the sport," he said [2].
Adams acknowledged the controversies surrounding the 2022 Qatar tournament, including concerns over human rights and migrant worker deaths [1, 2]. He also recognized ongoing geopolitical tensions, such as conflicts involving the US and Iran, but expressed hope the 2026 tournament would foster positivity and unity. "I think this event is really going to bring people together, and I really hope it brings the American people together as well," Adams said [1, 2].
Hosting the World Cup on home soil adds a special patriotic dimension to the USMNT’s campaign. Adams said, "When we’re pulling up to a game and you see the Stars and Stripes and the red, white and blue—just gets you in that patriotic mood. That’s the honor of representing the country" [3].
Though the USMNT has never won a World Cup, Adams believes this team is balanced and competitive, especially with the advantage of playing at home [1, 2]. He encourages focusing on one game at a time: "You don’t want to get too ahead of yourself. You can’t worry about that because it’s not in your control at the moment. It’s game by game, moment by moment, pass by pass where you can have an impact" [3].
Adams and several teammates have played together since youth, regularly communicating to build team cohesion [1]. The USMNT match against Paraguay on June 12 will be watched eagerly as the opening US game on home turf in the 2026 World Cup [1, 3].
