The U.S. men’s national team is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup with the largest field in the tournament’s history at 48 teams. What will define success for the USA after learning about their group stage foes?
Former U.S. legends Landon Donovan, Brad Guzan, and Cobi Jones believe the current team can advance to at least the quarterfinals, which requires winning at least two knockout games.
It all begins with a favorable group stage for the U.S.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s team was placed in Group D alongside Australia, Panama, and one yet-to-be-determined team from the UEFA playoffs (Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo). If Türkiye secures a spot, all U.S. World Cup rivals will be familiar opponents from recent friendlies.
“I wouldn’t want the players to think we’ve played them before, we’ve beaten them before, we got this in the bag,” said Jones. Translation: I hope the team doesn’t become overconfident based on past matches, as it will be crucial for Pochettino to ensure they stay focused.
The U.S. launches its World Cup journey on June 12 against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, a rematch from November where the USMNT won 2-1.
“They’re a tough out. I don’t care that they are not Brazil or Argentina. They’re going to be ready to play,” Donovan commented. Translation: Paraguay is a strong opponent, and we must be prepared regardless of their reputation.
“There are no easy games. It’s going to mean intense battles. They will need to use their experience,” Guzan stated. Translation: Every match will be challenging, and the team must rely on their collective experience.
Donovan looks forward to the group phase’s second match against Australia on June 19 in Seattle.
“I watched Aussie coach [Tony Popovic] after the draw … his first comment was that ‘We’re satisfied.’ I was like, really? Are you?” Donovan remarked.
The match with Australia followed a previous 2-1 victory in October, where striker Haji Wright scored twice, although star Christian Pulisic suffered a hamstring injury.
“They’re a solid team; hard to play against, but it’s a team we should beat,” Donovan expressed. Translation: Australia is formidable, but I believe we have the upper hand.
The U.S. concludes their group stage on June 25 in Los Angeles, with the opponent still unknown. Türkiye is the most accomplished and skilled of the four European teams vying for that final spot, and the U.S. previously lost to them 2-1.
“You cannot enter this game needing it to determine your advancement to the knockout phase,” Donovan warned. Translation: It’s essential to secure our place in the knockout rounds before this game.
Nonetheless, all three ex-World Cup players believe the U.S. will finish atop their group and move on successfully into the knockout stage.
“A quarterfinal … we are going to rely on how much they’ve matured under Pochettino. I’m optimistic about our prospects,” Guzan noted. Translation: I believe our growth as a team under the coach enhances our chances of going far.
“With the new World Cup rules, there’s an additional game to reach this stage. Tough matchups are possible in the next round; making the quarterfinals would be a considerable achievement,” Jones concluded. Translation: The structure of the tournament makes it complex, but a quarterfinal finish is a strong result.
Donovan added, > “Momentum for a home country is very real. We’ve seen it in South Korea [in 2002], in Russia in [2018] … You can see this happening. Win the group, get a decent draw … I think a quarterfinal would be a phenomenal result.” Translation: Playing at home can boost our performance significantly, and securing a strong result will be crucial for our journey.
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