The U.S. men's national soccer team has its sights set on a successful 2026 World Cup. Here is a look at the USMNT's group.

Mauricio Pochettino will learn his first ever World Cup group opponents as a coach on Friday when the World Cup draw takes center stage in Washington, D.C.

And during Friday's draw, the USMNT got a massive break that makes them feel like a big winner of the entire proceedings. It came when the Pot 2 teams were selected for each group. The big man selecting them, none other than Shaquille O'Neal, revealed that the Pot 2 team joining the United States would be Australia.

USMNT Coach Mauricio Pochettino joins Stu Holden and shares his excitement going into today's FIFA World Cup Draw.

There are plenty of storylines to unpick in a potential Group G featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, not suspended, and Portugal. The 40-year-old is set to go up against his current adopted home, Saudi Arabia, while World Cup minnows Cape Verde was ruled by Portugal until as recently as 1975.

But the draw is upon us, or on the way in a matter of hours: 9am Pacific Time, 12pm Eastern Time, 5pm for those of us in the UK. Seven and a half years have passed since the United States, Canada and Mexico were selected as joint hosts for 2026, and now we hit the most crucial moment ahead of kick-off itself on June 11.

Having automatically qualified as a host nation, the U.S. was helpfully put in Pot 1 of the draw, meaning that it will avoid most of the big-name soccer nations of Europe and South America that are quadrennial threats to hoist the trophy.

The USMNT and Mexico will play two European powerhouses in the last international break before the 2026 World Cup.