No, USA-England can’t play on July 4. Simple reason why the internet’s favorite World Cup fantasy won't happen

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No, USA-England can’t play on July 4. Simple reason why the internet’s favorite World Cup fantasy won't happen originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

It's a narrative that sprouted pretty quickly: The United States and England playing a 2026 FIFA World Cup match on July 4th in Philadelphia.

There's just one problem with that: It can't actually happen.

The scenarios of the World Cup bracket don't allow for such a clash.

In fact, the U.S. and England can't play in either the Round of 32 or the Round of 16. They'll have to advance deeper into the knockout stages to potentially meet one another.

For what it's worth, the Fourth of July action is part of the Round of 16 -- that's part of what rules out this possibility.

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Why can't USA play England on July 4th?​

The World Cup bracket isn't set up for this, in part because these teams are in very different groups.

The United States is a part of Group D, while England is in Group L.

To emphasize the difference in schedule: The U.S. opened on Friday, June 12, while England's first game is Wednesday, June 17.

FIFA had to account for the wide differences in game dates when creating the knockout bracket, too. There is no Round of 32 matchup that could pit any team finishing first through third in Group D against Group L.

There is also no Round of 16 matchup that could create a Group D against Group L clash, either.

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When can USA play England in the World Cup?​

The earliest they can play is in the quarterfinals.

If the USA wins Group D and England finishes second in Group L, and then they win their first two knockout matches, they'd play on July 10.

If England wins its group, and the U.S. finishes second in theirs, they couldn't meet until a semifinal.

If both teams win their groups? The only chance of a clash would be in the World Cup Final.

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