No, the U.S. Has Played in Six World Cups Since 1994 — And the 2026 Opener Details Aren't Confirmed Either
“The United States' first World Cup game since 1994 was against Paraguay in Los Angeles in Group D during the 2026 World Cup”
The argument in brief
A claim circulating online says the U.S. men's team's first World Cup game since 1994 will be against Paraguay in Los Angeles in Group D at the 2026 tournament. This is wrong on its face: the U.S. has played in six World Cups since 1994, including 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2022. The specific details about the opponent, venue, and group assignment are also unverified.
Why it spread
The 2026 World Cup is generating real excitement as a home tournament for the U.S., and people are primed to share anything that feels like a big moment. The idea of a long-awaited return to home soil sounds emotionally compelling, so many fans shared the claim without pausing to recall that the U.S. has actually been a regular World Cup participant for decades.
A claim has been spreading that the United States men's national soccer team will play its first World Cup game since 1994 against Paraguay in Los Angeles, in Group D, at the 2026 World Cup. The verdict: false. The foundational premise is simply wrong, and the supporting details cannot be confirmed.
The U.S. has not been absent from the World Cup since 1994. According to U.S. Soccer Federation records, the team competed in 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, and 2022. The 2026 tournament will be a homecoming of sorts — the U.S. is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico — but it is not a return from a 32-year absence.
The 2026 World Cup details in the claim are also unverified. FIFA's official site confirms Los Angeles and SoFi Stadium as one of 11 U.S. host cities, but as of early 2025, specific group assignments, opening match opponents, and venue-by-match schedules had not been fully announced. The claim about Group D and a Paraguay opener is not supported by any confirmed FIFA scheduling.
To be fair, there is a kernel of truth here that makes the claim feel plausible. The U.S. did host the World Cup in 1994, and 2026 marks the first time since then that American fans will watch games on home soil. That genuine excitement about a home tournament likely gave the false framing some traction.
This kind of misinformation spreads because sports news travels fast and fans share first, verify later. A claim that sounds like an exciting milestone — a homecoming, a big opener — gets passed along before anyone checks whether the U.S. actually missed the last several tournaments. When you see specific details like a group letter, an opponent name, and a city attached to a future sporting event, treat them as unconfirmed until FIFA makes an official announcement.
Sources
- FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Site
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with matches beginning in June 2026. As of the knowledge cutoff, specific group stage matchups and venues had not all been finalized or announced.
- U.S. Soccer Federation
The United States Men's National Team last hosted a World Cup game in 1994 and has participated in multiple World Cups since then (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2022), making the claim that 2026 is their 'first World Cup game since 1994' factually incorrect regardless of other details.
- FIFA World Cup 2026 Host Cities
Los Angeles (SoFi Stadium) is confirmed as one of the 11 U.S. host cities for the 2026 World Cup, but specific group assignments and match schedules were not fully confirmed as of early 2025.