The 2026 FIFA World Cup is just around the corner.
For the United States, it’s an exciting time.
Not only is the U.S. one of the three host countries—alongside Mexico and Canada—but this group of players represents a significant era for the USMNT. They transition from being one of the youngest teams in the 2022 World Cup to seasoned players with a real shot at advancing on home turf this time around.
The roster boasts experience from overseas, featuring talents like Weston McKennie from Juventus and Christian Pulisic from AC Milan.
Leading the team is Mauricio Pochettino, who has managed prominent clubs like Tottenham, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain. And, you can tell he’s beginning to envision greater things.
“Why not us? Why not us? Why not us?” Pochettino expressed at the end of March. “We need to really believe that we can achieve this. We have to dream.”
As we look ahead, it seems the USMNT might have a somewhat favorable road to realizing their ambitions at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
What group will the USMNT be in at the World Cup?
During the FIFA World Cup draw in December, the USMNT was in a good spot as a host nation, and they placed first in their group.
The U.S. finds itself in Group D alongside Paraguay and Australia, with the fourth position going to the playoff winner.
Ultimately, Turkey earned that fourth spot.
How does the U.S. stack up against the other teams in their group?
Current FIFA World Cup rankings show the USMNT at 17th. Turkey is at 22nd, with Australia at 27th and Paraguay at 40th.
Considering they also have the home-field advantage, the U.S. stands in a good position to progress beyond the group stages.
What happens if the USMNT advances?
This is where things really get thrilling.
With the tournament expanding to 48 teams, there’s a new knockout round of 32. The top two teams from each of the 12 groups, plus the eight best third-placed teams, automatically qualify for this round.
What does this mean for the U.S.?
As indicated, the USMNT tops Group D. If they clinch this group, their next match would be against the third-place team from Groups B, E, F, I, or J.
If they win that game, they would move on to face the winner of the match between the first and third teams from Group G in the Round of 16, aiming for a place in the quarterfinals. Belgium is currently leading Group G and holds the 9th rank globally.
This likely path to advancement is one reason many observers believe they could reach the quarterfinals, which seems a reasonable expectation for the USMNT.
USMNT Group Stage Schedule and Results
The schedule for the three group stage matches for the USMNT is as follows. All times are in Eastern.
U.S. vs. Paraguay, 9 p.m.;
U.S. vs. Australia, 3 p.m.;
Turkey vs. USA, 10 p.m.
