In an interview on Monday, United States coach Gregg Berhalter expressed his excitement and motivation for the upcoming 2026 World Cup final, which will be played in his home state of New Jersey. The final match will take place at MetLife Stadium, located just 15 minutes away from where Berhalter grew up. For him, this opportunity adds an extra layer of incentive to reach the final and make his country proud. With the expanded tournament featuring 48 nations and 104 games, the final in New Jersey will be a dream come true for Berhalter.
The July 19 final was awarded by FIFA to MetLife Stadium, the home of the NFL’s New York Jets and Giants. This state-of-the-art venue, which opened in 2010, will serve as the stage for the climax of the tournament. The 2026 World Cup will be unique as it will be spread across three nations: the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Mexico and Canada will each host 13 matches, while the U.S. will provide the majority of the venues. The three-nation format brings an exciting and diverse atmosphere to the tournament.
Advantages of Playing at Home
For Berhalter and the U.S. team, playing on home soil offers numerous advantages. The Americans will have the opportunity to train at their national training center in suburban Atlanta, ensuring a familiar and comfortable environment. Additionally, their opening match will take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on June 12. The team will also have the luxury of playing in their time zone, with matches in Seattle’s Lumen Field and a final group stage game back at SoFi Stadium on June 25. Berhalter believes that these advantages, coupled with the young and talented core of players, including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams, can propel the U.S. team to great success.
Berhalter draws inspiration from Morocco, a team that had a remarkable run to the semifinals in the previous World Cup, becoming the first-ever African team to reach that stage of the tournament. He sees Morocco’s achievement as an example of what the U.S. team should aspire to achieve. The coach emphasizes the diversity within the team, reflecting the multicultural nature of America itself. Berhalter hopes that Americans can identify with the team and be inspired by their performance on the field.
As the host nation, the U.S. will not participate in World Cup qualifiers. However, the team has a busy year ahead with two important tournaments: the Concacaf Nations League and the Copa América, both held at home. The U.S. is the defending champions of the Concacaf competition and will face Jamaica in the semifinals on March 21. The other semifinal will feature Mexico and Panama. In the Copa América, the U.S. team will compete against Bolivia, Panama, and Uruguay in the group stage. Despite being suspended for the match against Jamaica due to a red card received in a previous game, defender Sergiño Dest is expected to be included in the roster for the Nations League.
Berhalter believes that the team’s focus should be on the development of the group rather than immediate World Cup qualifiers. He sees this as an opportunity to further strengthen the team, building on their recent successes in international competitions. With the 2026 World Cup final right in his home state, Berhalter and the U.S. team are determined to make their mark on the tournament and make their country proud.
The 2026 World Cup presents a unique opportunity for the United States, guided by coach Gregg Berhalter, to showcase their talent and potential on home soil. With distinct advantages of playing in familiar surroundings and a core group of talented young players, the team aims to emulate the success of teams like Morocco and inspire their fellow Americans. As preparations intensify and the tournaments draw nearer, the world will eagerly watch and await the U.S. team’s journey towards the dream of reaching the World Cup final.
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