‘U.S. Against the World’ trailer and release date: How to watch the HBO documentary about the USMNT
As the USMNT readies itself to co-host the men’s World Cup, a five-part series takes an “unprecedented look inside” the preparations.
A new HBO Max documentary chronicles the U.S. men’s national team’s (USMNT) preparations for the 2026 World Cup, as the Stars and Stripes gear up to co-host this summer’s tournament alongside Canada and Mexico.
Released later this month, U.S. Against the World promises an “unprecedented look inside” the USMNT over the period between the 2022 World Cup and the final run-up to this year’s event, which kicks off in June.
The five-part series documents U.S. Soccer’s eye-catching appointment of former Spurs, Chelsea and PSG head coach Mauricio Pochettino - who replaced Gregg Berhalter in 2024 - and profiles several of the stars set to lead the USMNT into the team’s 12th all-time appearance at the World Cup.
“Filmed over the course of four years, the series follows Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Tim Weah, Weston McKennie, and an array of U.S. players on their personal and collective journeys toward their sport’s biggest stage,” says HBO Max owner Warner Bros. Discovery.
When is U.S. Against the World released?
The docuseries premieres on HBO Max on Tuesday, May 12. Entitled “The Golden Generation”, episode 1 looks back over the USMNT’s campaign at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, under then-boss Berhalter. The series opener is scheduled to drop on HBO Max at 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT, the streaming service says.
U.S. Against the World episodes will then be released on every following Tuesday up until the series finale on June 9, two days before the World Cup begins.
U.S. Against the World - watch the trailer:
U.S. Against the World - full episode schedule:
- May 12: Episode 1, “The Golden Generation”
- May 19: Episode 2, “Not So Golden”
- May 26: Episode 3, “You Have to Fight”
- June 2: Episode 4, “That is Football”
- June 9: Episode 5, “26 Brothers”
How much does HBO Max cost?
Viewers in the U.S. can subscribe to a basic HBO Max plan with ads for $10.99/month, or for an annual fee of $109.99. A standard plan is available for $18.49/month or $184.99/year, while HBO Max’s premium plan costs $22.99/month or $229.99/year.
There is also the option of bundling HBO Max with the streaming platforms Disney+ and Hulu. This costs either $19.99/month or $32.99/month.
What is the USMNT’s 2026 World Cup group stage schedule?
Drawn in Group D, the USMNT begins its 2026 World Cup campaign on June 12, hosting Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Pochettino’s men then take on Australia at Seattle’s Lumen Field on June 19, before a matchday-three clash with Türkiye at SoFi Stadium on June 25.
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