The US Mens National Team will be hoping to pull off a sporting miracle this Summer, becoming only the seventh team in World Cup history to win the prestigious tournament as the host nation. Doing so won't be easy, but if you're rooting for the Stars and Stripes, here's a handy guide.
The USA returns to the World Cup after having made the knockout stage in 2022. They missed the tournament entirely in 2018 having failed to get out of the qualification stage, but they didn't have to worry about that this time around. Their best World Cup Finish came in 2002, bowing out to South Korea in the quarter finals. 2026 marks the 12th World Cup tournament for the US, and with it comes a new dawn.
The man at the front of the new era is Manager Mauricio Pochettino, best-known for his stint with Tottenham Hotspur before going onto manage both PSG and Chelsea. To say he's used to high-pressure environments would be an understatement, and with what could be an easier path through to the knockout phase, who knows what the most iconic tournament in all of sport holds?
The 26-man squad was revealed late in May and raised plenty of mixed opinions:
Goalkeepers (3): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City), Matt Turner (New England Revolution).
Defenders (10): Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew), Sergiño Dest (PSV), Alex Freeman (Villarreal), Mark McKenzie (Toulouse), Tim Ream (Charlotte FC), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace), Antonee Robinson (Fulham), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Joe Scally (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Auston Trusty (Celtic).
Midfielders (4): Tyler Adams (AFC Bournemouth), Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver Whitecaps), Weston McKennie (Juventus), Cristian Roldan (Seattle Sounders).
Attacking midfielders/wingers (6): Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United), Christian Pulisic (AC Milan), Gio Reyna (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen), Tim Weah (Marseille), Alejandro Zendejas (Club América).
Strikers (3): Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco), Ricardo Pepi (PSV), Haji Wright (Coventry City).
Focusing heavily on the backline, with 5 centerbacks making the final cut, stability is the name of the game for 'Poch'. But his limited midfield and attacking options bring plenty of prowess. Christian Pulisic and Brenden Aaronson will be the forwards most familiar to casual fans, with Aaronson of course being a Philadelphia home-grown talent!
With plenty of Premier League and top-flight European experience, this is a team that can provide more than a few surprises, especially with a very winnable group...
The USMNT will start their journey in Group D, accompanying Paraguay, Turkey, and Australia. Two teams procede to the knockout phase from each group. On paper, the only real threat is Turkey...although looks can be deceiving.
Arda Guler and Kenan Yildiz headline a Turkish side looking to build on their EURO 2022 Quarter-Finals appearance. Turkey has a rich history in the World Cup, having made the Semi Finals back in 2002, but they have struggled to replicate that success, failing to qualify ever since. Fans will be hoping the nations' two young starlets can get them back on the right tack.
Paraguay presents a very familiar challenge. The USMNT were able to clinch a 2-1 win in a November friendly, and the two sides have clashed 9 times in international play so far, spannign the likes of Copa America and CONMEBOL meetings.
Australia should not be overlooked either. They've made 5 consecutive tournaments, despite being unable to make it out of the group stage in any of those appearances. They too will be hoping for better success this time around in a group that to them will feel winnable too.
Their schedule for the 2026 World Cup is as follows:
Friday, June 12: USMNT vs. Paraguay, Los Angeles Stadium, 9 p.m. ET
Friday, June 19: USMNT vs. Australia, Seattle Stadium, 3 p.m. ET
Thursday, June 25: USMNT vs. Turkey, Los Angeles Stadium, 10 p.m. ET
USMNT To win the World Cup: 60-1
The good news is that the odds seem to heavily favor the US making the knockout stages, and from there, anything is possible, especially on home turf. With a renowned Manager and a mix of both youth and a veteran presence, this is a team that does have the making of causing a few heartaches for opposing fans. A defensively-minded outfit that can frustrate some of the more creative teams in the tournament and looks built to grind out those intense 1-0 wins or push for extra time and penalties in the knockouts.
