Thomas Floyd

At the World Cup draw, Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT learns its fate The United States will face Australia, Paraguay and a European playoff winner in group stage play when the tournament opens next summer.

The United States will face Australia, Paraguay and a European playoff winner when it opens the World Cup on home soil next summer. Reporting from today’s draw at the Kennedy Center:

World Cup draw live updates: FIFA’s stage is set, with Trump and soccer in the spotlight National soccer teams will learn their group stage opponents at the draw for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The 2026 World Cup draw is today. At the event — which starts at noon, airs on Fox and will stream on FIFA’s YouTube channel — national teams will learn their opponents for the group stage of next summer’s tournament.

Follow our coverage:

Snag today's Style section for my profile of "Wake Up Dead Man" director Rian Johnson. Among the topics we touched on: How he's making the Benoit Blanc films more personal, the misnomer that he sets out to subvert expectations and, of course, his inspirations in musical theater. wapo.st/4oYNDnb

Overlooked for the 2026 men’s World Cup, D.C. is (as expected) prominently featured in the bid book submitted by U.S. Soccer and its partners for the 2031 women’s World Cup. digitalhub.fifa.com/m/12af6ec142...

The mind behind ‘Knives Out’ keeps pumping out capers. Here’s his secret. With his latest Benoit Blanc movie “Wake Up Dead Man,” Rian Johnson has ‘dun it again.

“He’s an incredibly important director, and I don’t mean that lightly,” Daniel Craig says. “Wherever the industry is heading … having someone like Rian around means that great movies are still going to get made.”

Profiling “Wake Up Dead Man” filmmaker Rian Johnson:

Trinity Rodman needs a new contract. Can the Spirit keep her? NWSL Commissioner Jessica Berman said her league will “fight” to keep the U.S. national team star amid interest from abroad.

Trinity Rodman is out of contract. Can the Washington Spirit keep her amid interest from abroad? Rodman, Aubrey Kingsbury, Tierna Davidson, Rose Lavelle and Emma Hayes weigh in on this inflection point for the #NWSL.

Spirit’s run ends again in NWSL final, this time vs. Rose Lavelle and Gotham FC The star U.S. midfielder scored in the 80th minute for the New Jersey-based team as Washington fell, 1-0, for the second straight year.

“I think it’s a big shock. This group completely believed that we would win. There was really no scenario where we didn’t lift that trophy today.”

The Washington Spirit’s run ends again in the NWSL final — this time against Rose Lavelle and Gotham FC. Reporting from PayPal Park:

Halftime thoughts:

— Gotham has looked better, though the Spirit found a rhythm as the half wore on.
— Wiesner is having some trouble with Purce. A sub or tactical tweak wouldn't surprise me.
— Reale has contained Kouassi but that yellow on the last kick of the half might make her life difficult.

Checking in from PayPal Park, where there are no surprises in the Washington Spirit lineup for tonight’s #NWSL final against Gotham. Here are the starters:

Kingsbury; Morgan, Bernal, McKeown, Wiesner; Santos, Hershfelt, Bethune; Kouassi, Cantore; Monday

Rodman is available off the bench.

Column | How the Washington Spirit embraced the soul of D.C. During an anxious time in the nation’s capital, the NWSL team and its fans cemented a bond.

No pro franchise in town has leaned into the District, its residents and the issues they care about the way the Spirit has.

Column from @barrysvrlugawp.bsky.social

Greetings from PayPal Park, where Spirit Coach Adrián González confirmed that defender Gabrielle Carle (hamstring) will not be available to play in the NWSL final. That's not a surprise — Carle was jogging on the side with Andi Sullivan and not participating in training today.

Analysis | The USMNT ended 2025 with a bang. Who should make the World Cup roster? Coach Mauricio Pochettino, whose team rolled to a 5-1 win over Uruguay on Tuesday, has some tough decisions to make.

The #USMNT ended 2025 with a rotated squad, a stunning 5-1 rout of Uruguay and some fiery words from Mauricio Pochettino.

Reporting from Tampa, I broke down what that means for the World Cup squad and offered an updated projection for the final 26-man roster.

A heavily rotated #USMNT just thrashed Uruguay, 5-1, to end its 2025 slate on a 4-0-1 run. (Just as we all predicted.) My main two takeaways:

— After this performance, I'd pencil Freeman into the RCB slot at the World Cup.
— Berhalter's set-piece service probably sneaks him into the 26.

"Alex Freeman torches Ronald Araujo for his second goal of the first half" is not a sentence I thought I would be writing today, but here we are. #USMNT

Greetings from Tampa, where the #USMNT has made nine changes: Freese; Freeman, Trusty, McKenzie; Dest, Berhalter, Morris, Tolkin; Tillman, Luna; Wright.

Storylines to watch …
— Freeman gets a shot at right center back.
— McKenzie and Trusty’s audition.
— Can Wright build off the Australia game?

Analysis | Theater about sports sounds like it won’t work. But it can be exhilarating. From “Damn Yankees” to the “Bull Durham” musical, recent productions show how the unlikely team-up can be a winning formula.

Sports and theater might seem like an odd duo, but they’ve been teaming up frequently this fall: "Damn Yankees," "Red Pitch," "Bull Durham," "Chess." So I saw 'em all and wrote about the uncanny connections between athletics and the arts.

All eyes were on Gio Reyna in his USMNT return. He rose to the occasion. What to know about the U.S. men’s national soccer team’s 2-1 win over Paraguay.

All eyes were on Gio Reyna in his #USMNT return. He rose to the occasion.

Breaking down Reyna's return, Joe Scally's audition and more after the Americans' 2-1 win over Paraguay in Chester.

Spirit returns to NWSL championship match by shutting out Portland Gift Monday and Croix Bethune scored for Washington, which posted a 2-0 win at Audi Field to advance to next weekend’s title game.

The Washington Spirit is going back to the NWSL championship match. From our @ellabrockway.bsky.social:

Adrian Gonzalez says last week's win over Racing was physically/emotionally taxing, & he's really pleased that the team could bring that same energy today.

"I think the team has done a great job being locked in, believing until the end, playing as we want to be, with the personality that we have."

Trinity Rodman in the mixed zone: “My focus has been winning this championship and then the next steps come after that. … Once we get this championship, then I can start making decisions and figuring out what next year looks like.” #NWSL

Sullivan, Krueger and Hatch on maternity leave. Rodman sidelined most of the year. A midseason coaching change.

It truly speaks to the culture, chemistry and depth of this Spirit squad that it found its way back to the #NWSL final anyway.

The Washington Spirit is playing for a return trip to the NWSL final, and having a healthy Croix Bethune is a major reason. Find my profile of the Olympic gold medalist on the front of Saturday’s Sports section.

A first pitch derailed her 2024 season. She’s back — and eyeing the NWSL final. Croix Bethune has helped bring the Washington Spirit within one game of a return to the NWSL final.

“My body can do really great at healing itself and bouncing back. It sucks to say that, but I’d rather know.”

After three torn ACLs and a first pitch gone awry, Croix Bethune is thriving once more for the Washington Spirit — and one game away from at last playing in an NWSL final.

She was training and also seems to be on track.

At Spirit training, where Coach Adrián González was fairly coy regarding the status of Tara McKeown (ankle) and Gabrielle Carle (hamstring). "We need to see how the week goes," he said. Both players were held out of full training.

And Trinity Rodman? "I think she's on track," González said.

She stole scenes in ‘Better Call Saul.’ In her new show, she’s the star. D.C. theater veteran Rhea Seehorn re-teams with Vince Gilligan on the dystopian drama series “Pluribus.”

“Rhea would say that when she was younger, people wouldn’t think she was a leading lady. That blows my mind, because you watch this, and you’re like, ‘You’re nothing but a leading lady.’”

D.C. theater alum Rhea Seehorn stole scenes in “Better Call Saul.” In “Pluribus,” she’s the star. My profile:

Just for kicks, Spirit earns another dramatic NWSL playoff win Goalkeeper Aubrey Kingsbury and Washington snag a 3-1 shootout victory over Racing Louisville after regulation ends in a 1-1 draw.

“At some point, we’d like to win a playoff game in 90 minutes and do it the easy way. But it’s also more exciting this way.”

Another playoff game, another exhilarating Spirit win. Reporting from Audi Field on Washington’s shootout triumph over Louisville:

Afraid the Post has me tied up with other duties, so I haven’t been on the DCU beat the past few weeks. Sorry I can’t be of more service at the moment!

The USWNT got a ‘kick up the backside.’ Can the Americans learn from it? The U.S. squad was missing some stalwarts in a 2-1 defeat, but Coach Emma Hayes still had a talented lineup that looked out of sync.

The #USWNT got a “kick up the backside” in a 2-1 loss to Portugal. Can the Americans learn from it?

Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica join U.S. bid to host 2031 women’s World Cup The four-nation effort, which is running unopposed, is expected to be ratified by FIFA in April.

Mexico, Costa Rica and Jamaica have joined the unopposed U.S. bid to host the 2031 women’s World Cup