The U.S. men’s national team is headed to Northern California for its next World Cup match — and fans across the Bay Area will get a home-soil look at a team off to a red-hot start.
The U.S. clinched a spot in the knockout round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 2-0 win over Australia on Friday, June 19 in Seattle. Combined with a 4-1 opening victory over Paraguay, the Americans have secured six points and locked up first place in Group D.
That means the next match will be played in California — regardless of what happens in the final group-stage game against Turkey.
Now, who will the U.S. play? And where?
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When and where is the USMNT playing in California?
The U.S. will play its Round of 32 matchup on:
Levi’s Stadium — home of the San Francisco 49ers — is one of California’s premier World Cup host venues and is expected to draw a large U.S.-heavy crowd for the knockout-stage match.
Why it matters for California readers:
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Who will the U.S. play in the Round of 32?
While the location is set, the opponent is still unknown. – SHOP TICKETS
As the Group D winner, the U.S. will face a third-place team advancing from one of five other groups:
Those groups are still playing out, meaning the U.S. matchup won’t be finalized until the final wave of group-stage games wraps up.
Why the U.S. clinched early
The Americans secured their knockout spot with two dominant wins:
Paired with Paraguay’s later win over Turkey, the results ensured the U.S. cannot be caught atop Group D.
Clinching early allows the team to:
What’s next for USMNT — and California fans
The U.S. still has one group-stage game remaining against Turkey, but the focus now shifts to the knockout stage — where every match is elimination.
For California readers, the attention turns to Santa Clara:
A deep U.S. run would likely bring additional matches to West Coast venues, depending on bracket outcomes.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: USMNT to play World Cup knockout game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara
Reporting by Jordan Mendoza and James Ward, USA TODAY NETWORK / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jordan Mendoza and James Ward, USA TODAY NETWORK | USA TODAY Network
