USMNT’s Next Moves: A Comprehensive Timeline
The US Men’s National Team (USMNT) has concluded its participation in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the team is now gearing up for a series of upcoming international competitions. In this article, we will delve into the USMNT’s schedule for the next several years, including the 2028 Olympics, Copa America, and the 2030 World Cup.
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Expanded International Breaks and CONCACAF Nations League
The U.S. men’s soccer team will benefit from an expanded international break from September 21 to October 6, 2026. During this period, the team will participate in four matches, which will not include the fifth edition of the CONCACAF Nations League. The CONCACAF Nations League group stage draw is scheduled for July 23, and the U.S. is likely to receive a bye to November’s quarterfinals due to its position in League A.
- League A includes Canada, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
- The U.S. men’s team will face home-and-away matches against a group stage qualifier in November 2026 for the right to compete in the semifinals and third-place match or final in March 2027.
Before the 2027 Gold Cup, the USMNT will warm up with two friendlies from June 7-15. The tournament proper will take place shortly after.
Copa America 2028 and the LA Olympics
The U.S. men’s team is expected to compete in both Copa America 2028 and the LA Olympics. If reports are true, the 2028 Copa America was awarded to the United States as part of a deal to host the 2024 Copa America. The men’s team will qualify as hosts for the 2028 Olympics, which will feature a U-23 roster with three overage players. The tournament is scheduled to take place from July 10-29, 2028.
However, the exact dates for the 2028 Copa America have not been set. The 2024 edition was held from June 20-July 14, while the 2021 tournament ran from June 13-July 10.
2030 World Cup Qualification
CONCACAF’s automatic 2026 World Cup berths were awarded over about 20 months between late March 2024 and November 2025. The qualification process for the 2030 World Cup should begin for the United States sometime in 2028. There are still questions about how CONCACAF World Cup qualifying will look for 2030, as there will be three more teams in the pool after the United States, Canada, and Mexico all bypassed qualifying for the 2026 World Cup as tri-hosts.
