For those who were on the pitch, it was a memorable week of festive soccer, one that surely intrigued U.S. men’s national team manager Mauricio Pochettino. Sports Illustrated ranks the top four performances of the week from his players across the globe.

North America will be the center of the sporting world during the summer of 2026 as the World Cup will be held in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will begin on June 11 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico, with a matchup between host nation Mexico and Group A challenger South Africa. In 2010, South Africa became the first African nation to host a World Cup.

The U.S. Soccer Federation splits World Cup prize money equally between the men's and women's teams, unlike many other nations.

Follow the World Cup draw with live updates and find out who the USMNT and soccer's best will be facing during the 2026 tournament. The expanded 2026 World Cup will be the biggest in history featuring 48 countries – up from 32 – battling for soccer's ultimate prize in North America.

Read the latest news from the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar including game previews, game recaps, predictions, injury news, player updates, rumors and more.

Presenting the biggest U.S. soccer stories of 2025, with the World Cup ready to grab the headlines and then some next year.