The 2026 FIFA World Cup begins this Friday, June 12, with the United States serving as one of three host nations alongside Canada and Mexico. The U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) is scheduled to open its campaign on the second day of the tournament against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, at 9 p.m. ET. The team, which features a mix of veterans and first-time participants, is in Group D and will face Australia on June 17 in Seattle and Turkey on June 25 in Inglewood. The U.S. Soccer Federation’s path to the tournament involved a significant financial and structural shift. Following the firing of head coach Gregg Berhalter in 2024, the federation sought a world-class successor. This led to the hiring of Mauricio Pochettino, a deal supported by “philanthropic leadership gifts” from hedge fund founder Kenneth C. Griffin and Scott Goodwin of Diameter Capital, along with several commercial partners. According to U.S. Soccer, these investments were intended to elevate soccer in America and provide the necessary funds to secure a high-profile coach. Pochettino, who became the highest-paid employee in U.S. Soccer history, has spent 20 months implementing a “teardown-to-buildup” strategy to prepare the team for the tournament. While the tournament is expected to generate more than $11 billion in revenue for FIFA, host cities face significant operational costs. Reports indicate a fraught relationship between FIFA and U.S. Host cities regarding who footed the bill for transportation, safety, and security. Some cities have expressed frustration over “mounting costs” and slower-than-expected travel and hotel uptake. Also, cities have had to navigate strict FIFA rules, such as waiving stadium naming rights and adhering to specific sponsorship restrictions to avoid conflicts with FIFA’s global partners. Looking ahead, 21 U.S. Host cities signed a letter warning U.S. Soccer that they would not be prepared to sign for the 2031 Women’s World Cup without “meaningful negotiation of key terms.” The letter cited significant operational and financial challenges stemming from the current 2026 arrangements. While U.S. Soccer declined to comment on the letter, sources indicated that cities remain eager to be involved in 2031 but want the hosting terms to be handled differently.