The United States will be on home soil for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
And during Friday's draw, the USMNT got a massive break that makes them feel like a big winner of the entire proceedings.
It came when the Pot 2 teams were selected for each group. The big man selecting them, none other than Shaquille O'Neal, revealed that the Pot 2 team joining the United States would be Australia.
Of the 12 teams to be chosen out of Pot 2, Australia has the worst world ranking of any of them at No. 26.
And frankly, there just isn't any star power in the Australian side.
MORE: Shaq makes a wild 'David Black-ham' joke at World Cup draw
The Socceroos usually put together a well-organized, solid side. But relative to some of the other Pot 2 teams, there's simply nothing to be feared here.
There were star-studded teams that could've ended up in the United States' group, teams like Croatia, Morocco, Colombia or Uruguay.
Instead, the U.S. Gets Australia, and then learned that Paraguay will be their opening game as the selection from Pot 3.
The United States and Australia have never met at a World Cup. They've only ever played four friendlies.
MORE: LeBron James' 10-point streak ends in the most LeBron James way possible
Australia won the first meeting between the teams in 1992 at the Citrus Bowl, a 1-0 friendly victory.
They drew 0-0 in San Jose in 1998.
In 2010, the U.S. Beat Australia, 3-1.
And then on Oct. 14, 2025, the U.S. Beat Australia, 2-1. Haji Wright scored both USMNT goals in that game.
They'll next meet at the World Cup.
More news:
- Jahmyr Gibbs joins Barry Sanders in exclusive NFL history
- Warriors' Pat Spencer continues improbable journey from lacrosse to NBA
- Toosii somehow committed to college football after a non-descript HS career
- Legend Bey's recruitment was a wildly weird one
- George Pickens blasted for miserable effort
- Google tells us what we already knew about Shedeur Sanders