The U.S. Men’s National Team is set to co-host the 2026 World Cup, marking a historic event with 48 teams participating. The big question is, what will define success for the U.S. once they learn who their opponents will be in the group stage?
Former U.S. stars like Landon Donovan, Brad Guzan, and Cobi Jones are optimistic about the current squad’s potential to at least reach the quarterfinals, which would require winning two knockout stage matches in the expanded format.
However, success starts with winning a favorable group.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s team has been placed in Group D alongside Australia, Panama, and another team to be determined through UEFA playoffs in March (either Turkiye, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo). A potential match against Turkiye could mean all of America’s World Cup rivals will include teams they have faced in friendlies over the past year.
Jones cautioned, “I don’t want our players to think, ‘we’ve beaten them before, so we got this.'” Pochettino will need to ensure the team remains focused and ready to advance.
The U.S. will kick off the tournament on June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, which serves as a rematch after a recent 2-1 victory for the U.S. in an exhibition match.
Donovan acknowledged Paraguay’s resilience: “They’ll be ready to play…but I believe we’ll win.” Guzan emphasized the challenge ahead, saying, “There are no easy games…the U.S. must leverage the experience they’re gaining.”
Donovan is particularly looking forward to the June 19 match against Australia in Seattle. After previously defeating Australia 2-1 with Haji Wright scoring twice, he remains confident about overcoming them again, especially since Christian Pulisic had been injured in that last encounter.
The group stage will conclude for the U.S. in Los Angeles on June 25 with a yet-to-be-determined opponent. Turkiye, the highest-ranked of the playoff contenders, could pose a significant challenge, as they beat the U.S. 2-1 in June.
“The team needs to secure their spot without worry,” Donovan urged, stressing the importance of not feeling pressure towards qualification.
The three World Cup veterans all agree that the U.S. can come out on top of their group and create a path to the finals. Guzan is hopeful about leveraging the team’s development under Pochettino while Jones noted that this new World Cup format provides more opportunities for success.
Donovan emphasized the historical momentum seen in past World Cups, suggesting that if the U.S. wins their group and gets a favorable draw, reaching the quarterfinals would be an outstanding achievement.
Fan Take: This news is significant for soccer fans as it represents a promising opportunity for the U.S. to showcase its growth on a global stage. A successful World Cup run not only boosts national pride but also inspires the next generation of soccer players in America.
