US fans react after the World Cup Group D soccer match between the US and Australia in Seattle, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
The early results are in: This U.S men’s national team is for real on this World Cup.
With a fast and inventive offensive attack producing goals in front of stadium-shaking home crowds, the Americans have already won their group and booked their place within the knockout round. A final group stage match against Turkey in Los Angeles awaits before the pressure ramps up again.
The query now’s just how far can they go? The optimism and expectations of a deep run within the tournament are rising quickly.
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The American players seem desperate to embrace what might need seemed inconceivable for an enormous nation with a comparatively shallow pedigree in international soccer.
“I don’t think it’s ridiculous to say that we wish to win it,” U.S. defender Chris Richards said after Friday’s 2-0 win over Australia. “We wish to lift a trophy by the top of this.”
Few would have predicted this type of quick success, said striker Folarin Balogun, who scored twice within the opener against Paraguay.
“You realize, (if) someone said before the tournament ‘Two games and also you’re through to the knockouts,’ I believe all of us would have took it,” Balogun said. “We’re delighted.”
Argentine coach leads the American resurgence
The primary two matches saw the U.S. attack Paraguay and Australia with an energy, skill and creativity on offense rarely seen by the Americans within the World Cup.
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The U.S. has won consecutive World Cup matches for the primary time since 1930. And the six goals in the primary two matches are one in need of the team record for a World Cup.
The architect is coach Mauricio Pochettino, an Argentine who was best known for his European club stints with Tottenham, Chelsea and Paris Saint-German. He had never coached a national team until he was hired by the U.S. in 2024 with an eye fixed on this yr’s World Cup.
As a co-host, the U.S. was an automatic qualifier for the tournament, allowing Pochettino more time to experiment and craft the lineup he wanted. He was blunt earlier this month when he said the U.S. doesn’t have any players that rank among the many top 100 on this planet.
However the lineup he has placed on the sector the primary two matches has been rock solid and possibly even higher than expected. The players credit him with instilling a tougher, more resilient mindset.
Pochettino said after the win over Australia, he could feel the fan support reverberating throughout the stadium in Seattle.
“Today, even when I’m not American, after the sport I used to be emotional,” Pochettino said. “It was a tremendous and excellent connection between the energy from the stands and the team. This makes us feel very proud.”
Questions remain about U.S. star player Pulisic
Since the U.S. has already won its group, Pochettino could experiment along with his lineup for the match with Turkey on June 25. And it could provide extra rest for star midfielder Christian Pulisic, who missed the match with Australia due to a calf injury.
Pulisic, who plays for AC Milan, is taken into account the US’ best player, but his absence also allowed the U.S. to indicate off some depth within the lineup.
With Pulisic out, Pochettino began striker Ricardo Pepi, and Pepi combined with Balogun on the run that created the primary goal of the match within the eleventh minute.
“We know the way vital Christian is to the team and the way much he can contribute in the sport,” said Alex Freeman, who scored the second goal against Australia. “For us it was, we’ve Ricardo Pepi, who got here in and had a tremendous game. I believe that just shows how (good) our roster is.”
Still, the U.S. will want Pulisic’s regular hand and inventive playmaking as they get deeper within the tournament.
He has scored 33 goals in 87 international appearances, including the sport winner against Iran within the 2022 World Cup that sent the U.S. to the round of 16.
History of home nations
The U.S. will benefit from the home support for so far as they will go within the tournament. It may well be considerable.
The U.S. is co-host of the tournament with Canada and Mexico. Since 1930, the host nation has won the World Cup six times, most recently France in 1998.
When Mexico hosted in 1970 and 1986, it reached the quarterfinals each times. In 2002, co-host South Korea reached the semifinals. Host Russia reached the quarterfinals in 2018.
The U.S. finished third within the inaugural World Cup in Uruguay in 1930. Its best finish in the trendy era of soccer was the quarterfinals in 2002.
When the U.S. hosted the World Cup in 1994, the underdog Americans played in front of big crowds and slugged their way through the group stage before being eliminated by Brazil.
Back then, just reaching the knockout round was the goal and an enormous achievement for a gaggle of players that punched above their weight.
The expectations this time are for way more, and growing with every goal behind the online.
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“I believe people can see what we’re able to as a team,” Pepi said.