Was the World Cup Draw Fixed for the USA? Fans Question USMNT's 'Easy' Group

The more things change, the more they stay the same. While the World Cup will have a new home in 2026, the same old accusations that have long tarnished its governing body, FIFA, resurfaced during December’s final draw.

FIFA’s ethical practices have long been under scrutiny. It was only a decade ago that a major corruption scandal exposed widespread deceit and criminality within football’s top organization. Although the key figures from that era are gone, their shadow still looms over FIFA’s reputation.

Take the USA’s World Cup draw, for example. The Americans were placed into Group D during the ceremony. While other teams were paired with global superstars, the United States received what many see as a favorable draw. American fans, of course, aren’t complaining.

Here’s a breakdown of the USA’s World Cup group and the conspiracy theory suggesting the draw might have been manipulated to help the host nation reach the knockout stage.

USA’s World Cup Group D Draw

As one of the three host nations, the United States was placed in Pot 1, alongside football giants like Spain and Argentina.

They managed to avoid the sport’s traditional powerhouses. Pots 2 and 3 were filled with dangerous opponents—African contenders like Morocco, Egypt, and Senegal; South American threat Colombia; and Asian heavyweights Japan and South Korea.

The U.S. sidestepped those obstacles, instead drawing Australia (FIFA ranking No. 26). The Socceroos are no pushovers, having qualified for six consecutive World Cups, but they are far from the sport’s elite, advancing past the group stage only twice in that span.

Paraguay (FIFA No. 39) joined them in Group D, while the final spot will be decided by a UEFA playoff between the winners of Slovakia vs. Kosovo and Turkey vs. Romania.

Was the Draw Rigged for the USA?

So, did the U.S. get lucky, or was something more corrupt at play? There is absolutely no proof of any wrongdoing.

That said, for many, perception is reality. There may not be a smoking gun proving FIFA rigged the draw for the USA, but the image of FIFA President Gianni Infantino praising Donald Trump and awarding him the inaugural “FIFA Peace Prize” left a lasting impression on some observers.

Infantino and Trump are close friends and ideological allies whose partnership is built on shared interests. A more profitable World Cup benefits both.

Still, that doesn’t mean the draw itself was fixed. Why wouldn’t FIFA want the United States—a major market—facing the world’s best teams early on? That would likely generate more revenue. And why wouldn’t stars like France, Argentina, and Brazil get easier groups? Their global superstars—Mbappé, Messi, Vinícius—are the tournament’s biggest draws.

Despite Infantino’s courtship of Trump, the draw ceremony itself followed a predictable script. The Kennedy Center event was filled with pomp and circumstance, featuring performances by Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, and Lauryn Hill before giving way to the tense reactions of football officials.

When the USA’s group was announced, the reaction was relatively muted inside the venue. Outside, however, many American fans celebrated what they saw as a golden opportunity.