US Emerges as Strong Contender in 2026 World Cup with Historic Wins and High Hopes

As the 2026 World Cup progresses, the United States men's national soccer team has become a surprising favorite to win the tournament. Under Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino, the team has embraced the mantra "Why Not Us?" to inspire belief in their ability to defy expectations. This confidence was evident in their dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, which many consider one of the best performances in US World Cup history.

Six days later, despite missing star player Christian Pulisic due to a minor injury, the US team secured a 2-0 win against Australia at Lumen Field, clinching a spot in the round of 32. Soccer legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, energized by the US's historic achievement of winning two group stage matches for the first time, urged fans to believe in the team's potential to win the World Cup, highlighting the strong national support behind them.

Although the US lost 3-2 to Turkey in their third group match, the defeat did not impact their advancement, as Pochettino used the opportunity to rest key players. The US team is modeling their campaign after South Korea's 2002 World Cup run, where under foreign coach Guus Hiddink, the host nation reached the semifinals against all odds. Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp praised the US squad as the best they have ever had, underscoring the growing respect for the team on the global stage.

With the draw also favoring the US, the question remains whether this World Cup will be the one where the United States truly shocks the world by going all the way. Pochettino's leadership and the team's performances so far suggest they are ready to challenge the traditional favorites.