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Build your USMNT lineup for the 2026 World Cup: complete soccer guide.

~16 min read
Updated July 13, 2026
World Cup 2026 · D−0
“Soccer in America is finally a way of life.”
11

From goalkeeper to striker, draft your 11 starters and 15 on the bench.

TeamBranch reproduces the official structure of a soccer team: 1 goalkeeper, 10 field players, a formation (4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 3-5-2…), a captain, an armband. Eleven positions, eleven calls, from the keeper to the strikers.

Draft from the 2026 USMNT (Christian Pulisic captain, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun, Tyler Adams, Tim Weah, Yunus Musah, Matt Turner, Antonee Robinson, Sergiño Dest, Chris Richards), the 2002 quarterfinal heroes (Claudio Reyna, Brian McBride, Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Brad Friedel), the MLS stars with Messi at Inter Miami, or pull from Brazil, Argentina, England, France, Spain, Germany, Mexico. You can also assemble a team 100% with your buddies for Sunday's rec league.

28,000 players 11 positions 9 formations Share with one link
Signature mode · World Cup 2026 simulation

Your XI plays 8 matches to lift the trophy.

Most tools stop at the lineup. TeamBranch goes all the way through the tournament. Pick your team, we drop it into the official 48-team bracket, and we simulate every match: 3 group games, then Round of 32, Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, final. That's 8 matches in total to go all the way, with scores, scorers, cards, and stats.

A single simulation engine, calibrated on the real strength of the players you start. For non-soccer cards (a friend, a senator, your boss), the engine derives a strength from the person's occupation: a soldier defends better than a singer, a lawyer stays cool in PKs, a baker keeps endurance late into extra time. Re-run as many times as you want, share the tournament sheet.

▶ Run a simulation
Final bracket · sample simulation
Quarters
🇺🇸 USMNT2
🇲🇽 Mexico1
🇧🇷 Brazil3
🇫🇷 France1
Semi
🇺🇸 USMNT2
🇧🇷 Brazil1
Final
🇺🇸 USMNT3
🇦🇷 Argentina2
🏆 World Champions on home soil · ⭐
8matches played
6Pulisic goals
0defeats
1stWC star
World Cup 2026

My USMNT for USA, Canada, Mexico

Anticipate the lineup for June 12, 2026 against an opening opponent still to be confirmed after the final draw. Build Mauricio Pochettino's team (or yours) to chase the first ever star on the crest, on home soil. The USMNT enters 2026 with a generation forged in Europe and a roster deeper than ever before.

PochettinoPulisicMcKennieBalogun
Gold Cup & CONCACAF

The CONCACAF Nations XI

Rebuild the lineup that will chase the Gold Cup and the CONCACAF Nations League. Eternal regional rivals: Mexico, Canada, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Honduras, Panama. The USMNT has won 7 Gold Cups, second only to El Tri.

Gold CupNations LeagueCONCACAFMexico
Major League Soccer

The MLS Best XI of the season

Mix the stars of Inter Miami CF (Messi, Suárez, Busquets, Alba), the LA Galaxy 2024 MLS Cup champions, LAFC, Atlanta United, Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers, NYCFC, Columbus Crew, Philadelphia Union. The best XI in American club soccer, your way.

Inter MiamiLA GalaxyLAFCSounders
Fun team · with your friends

The Sunday rec-league lineup

Uncle in goal, buddy at right back, brother as the defensive mid, friend out on the wing. Upload your own photo cards for the local rec league, the corporate tournament, or just for the post-game beers after Thursday night pickup.

CustomPhotoRec leaguePickup
The Lineup Gazette · World Cup special issue
No. 256 · 1930 to 2026

Ninety-six years of World Cup, and the USMNT's biggest home-field shot ever in 2026.

From the first World Cup in 1930 in Uruguay, where the USA shocked everyone by finishing 3rd, to today, US soccer has lived a long, sometimes bitter, finally rising journey: 3rd place 1930, the famous 1950 Miracle on the Grass over England, the 2002 quarterfinal, the 2014 Round of 16 with Tim Howard, the 2018 missed qualification, and now the 2026 co-hosting. On TeamBranch, you can replay every generation, or rewrite the matches that broke our hearts.

1950 · Miracle on the Grass

USA 1-0 England in Belo Horizonte

June 29, 1950. USA 1-0 England at Estádio Independência. Joe Gaetjens, a Haitian-born striker working as a dishwasher in New York, scored the only goal of the game. The British press reportedly thought it was a typo when the score came in. One of the greatest upsets in World Cup history — and US soccer's first signature moment on the global stage.

The Americans were 500-to-1 underdogs going in. The English had Stanley Matthews, Tom Finney, and were among the favorites. They returned home in disgrace. The American team — semi-pro, part-time, undertrained — returned to obscurity. It would be 40 years before the USMNT qualified for another World Cup (1990 Italia '90).

2002 · The quarterfinal

Pulisic's ancestors in South Korea

USA 2-0 Mexico in the Round of 16 (Brian McBride and Landon Donovan), the most satisfying win in CONCACAF rivalry history. Then in the quarterfinal: USA 0-1 Germany in Ulsan. The Americans dominated for stretches, but Michael Ballack's handball on the line went uncalled. Germany advanced.

Bruce Arena's team — Claudio Reyna, Brian McBride, Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Brad Friedel, Tony Sanneh — became the high-water mark for American men's soccer for two decades. The 2026 generation, fully forged in European academies, is finally ready to match it. And maybe more.

2014 → 2026 · The Howard era and the Pulisic era

From Belgium 2014 to home soil 2026

Brazil 2014, Round of 16: USA 1-2 Belgium after extra time. Tim Howard made 15 saves, a World Cup record. Then heartbreak in October 2017: 0-2 in Trinidad, the USMNT failed to qualify for Russia 2018 — the first miss since 1986.

Recovery under Berhalter, R16 in Qatar 2022, then October 2024: Pochettino took the reins. Christian Pulisic captain “Captain America”, Weston McKennie, Gio Reyna, Folarin Balogun, Tyler Adams, Tim Weah — the generation that grew up watching the European leagues. The 2026 World Cup kicks off June 11 at the Azteca, and the USMNT plays at home for the first time in 32 years.

Architecture of the XI

How is a soccer team put together?

A soccer team lines up 11 players on the field (one goalkeeper, ten field players) and 15 subs on the World Cup 2026 roster. Each position has a clear role — that's exactly the grammar TeamBranch reproduces for your lineup.

The back line (5 in a 5-3-2, 4 in a 4-3-3) is the structure: tough center backs, outside backs who get forward. The midfield is the engine: ball recovery, transition, creation. The attack is the finish: speed, dribble, last touch. And the goalkeeper, the eleventh man, often wins World Cups on his own (ask Tim Howard).

The goalkeeper · No. 1
Matt Turner, Ethan Horvath, Patrick Schulte, Zack Steffen. Reflexes, distribution, command of the box. Tim Howard set the record for saves in a single World Cup match (15 vs Belgium 2014); Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller were the standard before him.
The center backs · 4 and 5
The anchors. Aerial duels, anticipation, distribution. Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Mark McKenzie, Miles Robinson. Yesterday: Eddie Pope, Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Geoff Cameron.
The outside backs · 2 and 3
The modern wing-backs. Cover the whole flank, defend then push forward. Sergiño Dest at right back, Antonee Robinson at left back, plus Joe Scally, DeAndre Yedlin. Yesterday: Steve Cherundolo, Eric Lichaj, Frankie Hejduk.
The defensive midfielder · No. 6
The anchor in midfield. Ball recovery, first pass, reading the game. Tyler Adams captain alternate. Yesterday: Michael Bradley, Maurice Edu, Kyle Beckerman. The heart of the team.
The box-to-box midfielders · 8 and 10
The engines. Running volume plus quality on the ball. Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah, Gio Reyna, Johnny Cardoso, Malik Tillman. Yesterday: Claudio Reyna, Landon Donovan, Tab Ramos.
The attack · 7, 9 and 11
Left winger, striker, right winger. Speed, dribble, finish. Christian Pulisic captain “Captain America”, Folarin Balogun at striker, Tim Weah on the right, Ricardo Pepi, Brenden Aaronson, Jordan Pefok. The goal-scoring machine.
The soccer lexicon

The words you need to talk soccer like ESPN FC.

Goal
The ultimate act: put the ball in the back of the net (the goal frame is 24 ft wide by 8 ft tall). Worth 1 point, no bonus, no PAT. The absolute unit of soccer.
The penalty area · the 18-yard box
The area within 18 yards of the goal. Inside it the keeper can handle the ball. A defender's foul here = a penalty kick (a PK).
PK and free kick
The penalty kick (12 yards out, about 75% conversion) is awarded for a foul in the box. The direct or indirect free kick for a foul outside it. American specialists: Christian Pulisic, Landon Donovan (a PK legend).
Offside
The attacker must have at least two defenders (including the keeper) between him and the goal line when the ball is played. VAR transformed how it's applied. The most misunderstood rule in soccer.
VAR and video review
Video Assistant Referee. Officialized at the 2018 World Cup. Reviews goals, PKs, red cards, mistaken identity. MLS adopted it in 2017; by 2026 it has been bedded in for nearly a decade.
Formations · 4-3-3 / 4-2-3-1 / 3-5-2
The tactical systems. 4-3-3 = modern standard (Pep, Klopp). 4-2-3-1 = double pivot plus #10 (Pochettino). 3-5-2 = three center backs plus wing-backs (Conte). 5-3-2 = the defensive bus.
Penalty shootout · PKs from the spot
The final ordeal after extra time. 5 takers alternating, then sudden death. The USMNT has had its share — Tim Howard heroics included.
Brace, hat trick and megs
The signature words. Brace = two goals in one match. Hat trick = three goals. Megs (or nutmeg) = a ball played through an opponent's legs. Worldie = a top-corner thunderbolt. Head coach = the manager (in US English).
Catenaccio and tiki-taka
The iconic schools of thought. Catenaccio = Italian ultra-defensive lockdown. Tiki-taka = Spanish possession 2008-2012. Gegenpressing = German press (Klopp). Joga bonito = Brazilian flair. The American way? Run hard, organize, hit on the counter.
Five eras · Five iconic teams

Replay the USMNT teams that shaped American soccer.

Every generation has its figures, its systems, its legends. On TeamBranch, you can recompose every USMNT lineup exactly as it was, or change a single name and see what happens. What if Pulisic had played in 2014? What if Donovan had stayed in for 2014? Find out in 60 seconds.

1930 to 1950
The amateur era and the Miracle on the Grass
3rd place 1930 Uruguay, the very first World Cup, semifinal loss to Argentina. 1950 Miracle on the Grass: USA 1-0 England in Belo Horizonte. Joe Gaetjens, the Haitian-born dishwasher striker, scored the goal. Then 40 years of nothing.
GaetjensBorghiPariani
1990 to 1998
Italia 90, hosting 1994, MLS launch
Italia 90: first World Cup since 1950. USA 1994: hosting the World Cup, R16 loss to Brazil 1-0 (eventual champions). Eric Wynalda, Tony Meola, Tab Ramos, Cobi Jones, Earnie Stewart. MLS launched in 1996 as a condition of FIFA awarding the 1994 World Cup.
WynaldaMeolaRamosJones
2002 to 2010
The Reyna-Donovan generation
2002 quarterfinal in South Korea/Japan, eliminated by Germany after Ballack's uncalled handball. Bruce Arena coach. 2010 South Africa: Landon Donovan's 91st-minute winner vs Algeria, R16 loss to Ghana in extra time. Claudio Reyna, Brian McBride, Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Clint Dempsey.
ReynaMcBrideDonovanDempsey
2014 to 2018
The Howard era and the Trinidad shock
2014 Brazil: R16 loss to Belgium 2-1, Tim Howard's record 15 saves. Jurgen Klinsmann coach. Then October 2017: 0-2 in Trinidad, USMNT failed to qualify for Russia 2018. The biggest trauma in modern US soccer history.
HowardDempseyBradleyAltidoreBedoya
2022 to 2026
The Pulisic era and co-hosting
Qatar 2022 R16, lost 3-1 to the Netherlands. Berhalter coach. September 2024: Mauricio Pochettino takes over as head coach, the most prestigious appointment in USMNT history. Pulisic captain “Captain America”, McKennie, Reyna, Balogun, Adams, Weah. World Cup 2026 kicks off June 11 — co-hosted on home soil.
PulisicMcKennieBalogunAdamsPochettino
“
Soccer in America used to be a joke. Now it's a way of life. In 2026, on our home soil, this generation has the chance to make it the front page.
Landon Donovan, all-time USMNT goalscorer (until Clint Dempsey tied him), the face of US soccer for a generation

Every soccer team you can build.

9 themes · no sign-up
★
USMNT for the 2026 World Cup

My USMNT for USA, Canada, Mexico

Build the lineup that will play the 2026 World Cup on home soil. Mix the established names (Pulisic, McKennie, Adams, Balogun, Weah, Robinson, Turner) and the young guns (Reyna, Musah, Tillman, Cardoso, Pepi). Your starting XI, your bench, your captain. Pochettino calls the shots on his — you call yours.

GK TurnerCB RichardsDM AdamsFW BalogunLW Pulisic
USMNT · 202652 internationals
⭐
The 2002 quarterfinal team

Bruce Arena's Korea side

Brad Friedel in goal, Tony Sanneh, Eddie Pope, Gregg Berhalter, Frankie Hejduk at the back, Claudio Reyna, Pablo Mastroeni, John O'Brien in midfield, Landon Donovan, Brian McBride, DaMarcus Beasley up top. The lineup that took the USMNT to the quarterfinal in South Korea/Japan 2002 — the high-water mark for two decades.

R ReynaM McBrideD DonovanF Friedel
2002 · South Korea23 heroes
🏆
The 2026 Pochettino XI

Captain America's starting eleven

Matt Turner, Sergiño Dest, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson at the back, Tyler Adams defensive mid, Weston McKennie, Yunus Musah as the box-to-box pair, Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, Tim Weah up top. The expected XI for the 2026 opener — Pochettino's spine.

P PulisicM McKennieB BalogunA Adams
06/12/2026 · TBD26 candidates
🌍
World Cup legends

The all-time World Cup XI

Step outside the USMNT: Pelé, Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldo Nazário, Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff, Zinédine Zidane, Garrincha, Lev Yashin, Paolo Maldini. The absolute XI in 96 years of World Cup history.

P PeléM MaradonaM MessiZ Zidane
1930 → 2022800 legends
🇺🇸
USWNT · women's national team

The USWNT, your way

Build Emma Hayes' USWNT. Alyssa Naeher or Casey Murphy in goal, Naomi Girma and Tierna Davidson in defense, Emily Fox at right back, Lindsey Horan (captain), Rose Lavelle, Crystal Dunn, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman. 4 World Cup titles, Olympic gold Paris 2024. The most decorated women's soccer program in history.

H HoranS SmithR RodmanG Girma
USWNT · 2026240 players
🇧🇷
Brazil · Argentina · Mexico

The Americas XI: continental rivals

The whole continent on one sheet: Brazil with Pelé, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Romário, Garrincha. Argentina with Messi and Maradona, reigning champions. Mexico with Rafa Márquez, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Hugo Sánchez. 9 World Cups for the Americas — same as Europe.

BR PeléAR MessiBR RonaldoMX Márquez
CONMEBOL + CONCACAF1,100 players
🏟
Major League Soccer

The MLS Best XI

Mix the stars of Inter Miami CF (Messi, Suárez, Busquets, Alba), the LA Galaxy 2024 MLS Cup champions, LAFC, Atlanta United, Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers, NYCFC, Columbus Crew, Philadelphia Union. The best XI in American club soccer, all on one sheet.

MIA MiamiLA GalaxyLAFC LAFCSEA Sounders
MLS · 30 clubs720 profiles
🎬
Celebrities and fiction

The unlikely XI

Tom Hanks in goal, Drake as the #10, Will Smith at left back, Captain America as the captain (obviously), Spider-Man on the wing, The Rock at striker, Beyoncé on the other wing, LeBron James at center back (height advantage). The only XI where you can line up Cristiano AND Messi on the same flank.

H HanksD DrakeS SmithR Rock
Film · TV · music2,100 profiles
👨‍👩
Your nearest and dearest

The XI of your club, your buddies, your family

Upload your own photo cards. Stick your brother at #10, your buddy at left back, your cousin on the wing, your dad as the captain. The rec league XI, the corporate team, the Thursday pickup, or just the team for the post-game beers. Custom and unlimited.

+ Photo+ Photo+ Photo+ Photo
Custom · freeunlimited
World Cup 2026 · D−0

The 2026 World Cup kicks off June 11 at the Estadio Azteca.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is played in the USA, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026, the first edition with 48 nations and 104 matches. 16 host cities, 12 groups of 4, final at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The USMNT, co-host, plays at home for the first time since 1994. The generation of Pulisic, McKennie, Reyna, Balogun, Adams, Weah — fully forged in European academies — finally has the chance to write soccer onto the front page of American sports.

On TeamBranch, build your 2026 World Cup XI today by scenario: Pochettino's current roster, a younger generation lineup, MLS-heavy spine, or a complete overhaul. Six pre-filled templates, editable in two clicks.

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Days
00
Hours
00
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Pre-filled templates · World Cup 2026
01
Pochettino and Pulisic lineup
The current squad: Turner, Dest, Richards, Ream, Robinson, Adams, McKennie, Musah, Pulisic, Balogun, Weah. The XI from the last friendly.
→
02
Young generation XI
The under-23s pushed to the front: Yunus Musah, Folarin Balogun, Joe Scally, Malik Tillman, Johnny Cardoso, Ricardo Pepi, Caleb Wiley.
→
03
All-Time USMNT XI
The legendary XI: Friedel, Cherundolo, Pope, Berhalter, Beasley, Bradley, Reyna, Donovan, Dempsey, McBride, Pulisic. Three eras fused.
→
04
MLS-dominant XI
7 players from MLS clubs. Showcase the league with Inter Miami, LA Galaxy, LAFC, Atlanta United, Seattle Sounders spine.
→
05
Revenge for Qatar 2022
Erase the R16 loss to the Netherlands. Every player from the December 3, 2022 sheet, recalculated for 2026 with reinforced midfield.
→
06
World XI · global pick
Not American, not Argentine: your ideal XI from the whole planet. Courtois, Hakimi, Van Dijk, Rüdiger, T. Hernandez, Bellingham, Pedri, Rodri, Vinicius, Haaland, Salah.
→
World tour of the World Cup

The 12 nations who shaped the World Cup, and their iconic lineups.

The World Cup has only had 8 different winners in 96 years. Top of the tree: Brazil 5 stars, Germany and Italy 4, Argentina 3, France and Uruguay 2, England and Spain 1. Plus a half-dozen regulars in finals and semifinals. On TeamBranch, you can build the lineup of every nation: current, historic, or your ideal mix.

🇺🇸
USA
USMNT · Stars and Stripes
0 stars. 3rd place 1930, Miracle on the Grass 1950 over England, QF 2002. Co-host 2026. Pulisic, McKennie, Balogun: the European-academy generation finally ready.
PulisicDonovanHoward
🇧🇷
Brazil
Seleção · Auriverde
5 stars (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 in the USA, 2002). The most titled country in history. Pelé, Garrincha, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Neymar.
PeléRonaldoNeymar
🇦🇷
Argentina
Albiceleste
3 stars (1978, 1986, 2022). Reigning world champions. Messi finally got the trophy in Qatar. Maradona, Mascherano.
MaradonaMessiMascherano
🇲🇽
Mexico
El Tri
The eternal CONCACAF rival. Hosting in 1970, 1986, co-hosting 2026. R16 seven straight World Cups, never made the QF. Rafa Márquez, Hugo Sánchez, Cuauhtémoc Blanco, Chicharito.
MárquezHernándezSánchez
🇩🇪
Germany
Die Mannschaft
4 stars (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014). Plus 4 lost finals. The European benchmark — and USMNT's 2002 QF nemesis. Beckenbauer, Müller, Klose.
BeckenbauerKloseMüller
🇫🇷
France
Les Bleus
2 stars (1998, 2018). 4 finals. The Mbappé generation chases a 3rd star in 2026.
ZidaneHenryMbappé
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
England
Three Lions
1 star (1966 at home). Euro 2024 finalists. Bellingham, Kane, Saka: 60 years of hurt and 2026 as the next shot.
BellinghamKaneSaka
🇮🇹
Italy
Squadra Azzurra
4 stars (1934, 1938, 1982, 2006). Absent from the last two World Cups (2018, 2022). Catenaccio, Buffon, Pirlo.
BuffonPirloBaggio
🇪🇸
Spain
La Roja
1 star (2010). Euro 2024 champions. Tiki-taka and the Pedri-Yamal generation reach 2026 at the summit.
YamalPedriRodri
🇵🇹
Portugal
Seleção das Quinas
3rd in 1966. Euro 2016 champions. Cristiano Ronaldo, Figo, Eusébio. Vitinha, Leão, B. Fernandes carry the torch in 2026.
RonaldoLeãoB. Silva
🇨🇦
Canada
Canucks
Co-host 2026. Only 2 prior WCs (1986, 2022). Alphonso Davies, Jonathan David — the multicultural Canadian generation. Hockey nation discovering soccer.
DaviesDavidLarin
🇲🇦
Morocco
Atlas Lions
2022 World Cup semifinalists, the first African nation. Hakimi, Ziyech, Bono. The pride of the continent.
HakimiZiyechBono
The 16 host cities · USA · Canada · Mexico

The 16 stadiums that will host the 2026 World Cup.

For the first time in history, the World Cup is played across three countries and 16 cities: 11 in the United States, 3 in Mexico, 2 in Canada. 104 matches in total, final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey on July 19, 2026, opening match at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on June 11. On TeamBranch you can build the lineup of the opening match, the lineup of a given stadium, or the lineup of the final.

MEX
Estadio Azteca
Mexico City
Opening
NJ
MetLife Stadium
New York / NJ
Final
DAL
AT&T Stadium
Dallas
Semifinal
LA
SoFi Stadium
Los Angeles
8 matches
ATL
Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Atlanta
Semifinal
MIA
Hard Rock Stadium
Miami
3rd place
SF
Levi's Stadium
San Francisco
6 matches
PHI
Lincoln Financial
Philadelphia
6 matches
BOS
Gillette Stadium
Boston
7 matches
SEA
Lumen Field
Seattle
6 matches
KC
Arrowhead Stadium
Kansas City
6 matches
HOU
NRG Stadium
Houston
7 matches
TOR
BMO Field
Toronto
6 matches
VAN
BC Place
Vancouver
7 matches
GDL
Estadio Akron
Guadalajara
4 matches
MTY
Estadio BBVA
Monterrey
4 matches
Share

Your lineup, in one URL.

Every team built on TeamBranch generates a unique link and an Open Graph card with photos, numbers, and a Stars and Stripes banner. Share to WhatsApp, X, Insta, challenge your buddies, kick off the bar debate.

Frequently asked questions

The classics on the ideal lineup.

The questions our users ask most often on Google and in our messages.

How do I build my dream USMNT lineup online?
Pick a tactical formation (4-3-3, 4-2-3-1, 3-5-2, 5-3-2…), then fill the 11 starting positions and 15 subs by drafting from 28,000 players: USMNT stars of today, the 2002 quarterfinal heroes, MLS standouts, internationals abroad, or upload your own photo cards. You get a unique link to share with your friends. No sign-up required, 100% free.
When does the 2026 World Cup kick off?
Thursday, June 11, 2026 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City for the opening match. The tournament runs through Sunday, July 19, 2026, with the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. 104 matches over 39 days, the first ever 48-team edition: 12 groups of 4, the top two plus the eight best third-place teams qualify for the Round of 32.
What are the 16 host cities of the 2026 World Cup?
11 in the USA: Atlanta, Boston (Foxborough), Dallas (Arlington), Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles (Inglewood), Miami (Miami Gardens), New York / New Jersey (East Rutherford), Philadelphia, San Francisco (Santa Clara), Seattle. 3 in Mexico: Mexico City (Estadio Azteca, opening), Guadalajara, Monterrey. 2 in Canada: Toronto and Vancouver. The final is at MetLife Stadium (82,500 seats), the opening match at the Azteca (87,500 seats).
What is the official composition of a soccer team?
The starting 11 consists of 1 goalkeeper and 10 field players arranged by the formation. In a modern 4-3-3: 4 defenders (2 outside backs plus 2 center backs), 3 midfielders (one defensive mid plus two box-to-box), 3 forwards (two wingers plus one striker). 15 subs on the World Cup 2026 roster (5 subs allowed per match, plus extra time). TeamBranch reproduces this grammar to the letter.
Can I build a USMNT lineup for the 2026 World Cup?
Yes, it's the #1 use case right now. We have 6 pre-filled templates by scenario: Pochettino's current squad built around Pulisic and McKennie, a younger generation XI (Gio Reyna, Yunus Musah, Folarin Balogun), an All-Time USMNT, an MLS-dominant lineup, the revenge for the 2022 Round of 16 loss to the Netherlands, and a World XI. Editable, shareable, updated before every friendly and after the final 26-man roster announcement.
Can I build a team with my friends or family?
Of course. 1.8 million custom XIs have been created so far. Upload photos of your buddies, your brother, your dad, your cousin, your high school soccer coach, and place them in whatever positions you want. Perfect for the rec league, the corporate tournament, the bachelor party, or just for some Whatsapp group banter ahead of the World Cup.
What about the USWNT, the U.S. women's national team?
The USWNT is 100% integrated — and it's the most decorated women's program in soccer history. Build Emma Hayes' team: Alyssa Naeher (GK), Alyssa Thompson, Sophia Smith, Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman, Lindsey Horan (captain), Crystal Dunn, Rose Lavelle, Naomi Girma, Emily Fox. 4 World Cup titles (1991, 1999, 2015, 2019), Olympic gold in Paris 2024. The Women's World Cup 2027 in Brazil is the next horizon.
Which club leagues are covered?
The 30 clubs of Major League Soccer (Inter Miami CF with Messi, LA Galaxy, LAFC, Atlanta United, Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers, NYCFC, Columbus Crew, Philadelphia Union, FC Cincinnati, New England Revolution, plus all the rest), the USL Championship, the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, Liga MX, Saudi Pro League. Women's: NWSL. Over 720 club profiles in total.
What formations does TeamBranch offer?
Nine: 4-3-3 (modern standard, Pep), 4-2-3-1 (double pivot plus number 10, Pochettino's preferred), 4-4-2 (classic), 3-5-2 (three center backs plus wing-backs), 3-4-3 (attacking, Conte), 5-3-2 (defensive lockdown), 4-1-4-1 (compact), 4-3-2-1 (Christmas tree, Ancelotti), 3-4-2-1. You can switch at any time and your XI rearranges automatically on the interactive field.
How has the USMNT done at past World Cups?
0 stars, but a real history. 3rd place in 1930 in Uruguay (the very first World Cup, semifinal loss to Argentina). The famous 1-0 win over England in 1950 (Joe Gaetjens, 'Miracle on the Grass'). Quarterfinal at 2002 South Korea/Japan, eliminated 1-0 by Germany (Ballack's uncalled handball on the line). 2014 Round of 16 (Tim Howard's record 15 saves vs Belgium). Failed to qualify in 2018 (the heartbreak in Trinidad). 2022 Round of 16. Hosting in 1994 (Brazil won), co-hosting in 2026 with Canada and Mexico.
Is the service really free?
Yes, no catch. Building your XI, sharing, exports, adding custom photo cards, tactical simulation: all free. No registration required, no intrusive ads, no paywall. Build as many lineups as you want, as many times as you want, for as many tournaments as you want.
Does TeamBranch exist for other soccer nations?
Yes, 187 local editions including Brazil (Seleção), Argentina (Albiceleste), England (Three Lions), France (Les Bleus), Germany (Die Mannschaft), Spain (La Roja), Italy (Squadra Azzurra), Portugal, Netherlands (Oranje), Belgium, Morocco (Atlas Lions), Uruguay, Mexico (El Tri, the great regional rival), Japan, South Korea. Each edition has its own local player base, legends, and house terminology.