Tim Howard’s Take on U.S. Soccer Team’s World Cup Chances

Tim Howard, the former goalkeeper for the U.S. men’s national soccer team, acknowledges the team’s promising start in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, he expresses skepticism about their ability to ultimately claim the trophy.

Howard asserts that winning the World Cup is “impossible,” stating, “It’s not obvious that the United States is going to win the World Cup.” He elaborates on his podcast “Unfiltered Soccer” with fellow ex-teammate Landon Donovan, emphasizing the need for the U.S. to perform at its absolute best to secure victories in each stage: “The U.S. has to play its best game ever…four games in a row. Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, final.”

Moreover, he declares, “It’s literally impossible for America to win the World Cup. That’s the reality.”

In contrast, Donovan maintains a slightly more optimistic outlook. He acknowledges the team’s potential, remarking, “Can we do it? Yes. Has this group proven it can beat the top teams? No.” However, he believes that if they continue to play well, they can compete with any team in the tournament.

So far, the U.S. men’s national team has shown strength, notably defeating Paraguay with a score of 4-1, marking the highest points scored by a U.S. squad in a World Cup match. Just recently, they also beat Australia 2-0, securing a spot in the knockout stage.

Donovan expresses confidence in the team’s momentum, suggesting they could achieve a surprising run through the later stages of the tournament. He says, “I’ve said this many times: Can we do it four times in a row? Can we do it in the round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, finals? That’s the really tough part. But the momentum is building, you never know.”

The U.S. team has one remaining game in Group D against Turkiye, which will determine their next matchup in the new Round of 32 format. This World Cup has expanded from 32 to 48 teams, allowing the top two from each group and the best eight third-place teams to advance.

Although this upcoming match isn’t crucial for the Americans, Coach Mauricio Pochettino is likely to stress the importance of maintaining their early momentum.

Another point of interest is the status of Christian Pulisic, the star midfielder who missed the Australia game due to a calf injury. His availability will be closely watched as the team prepares for the knockout stage. Considering they’ve already qualified, it will be intriguing to see if Pochettino decides to rest him to ensure he’s ready for the elimination round.

As the team moves forward, the question remains: Can they surprise skeptics, including Howard, and make a deep run into the finals? This dynamic group has certainly made a strong impression so far.