US Soccer Team Emerges as Strong Contender at 2026 World Cup

At the 2026 World Cup, the United States men's soccer team has rapidly become a leading contender, defying expectations. Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino has instilled a confident mantra, "Why Not Us?", motivating the squad to believe in their potential to win the tournament. This belief was reinforced by a commanding 4-1 victory over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, witnessed by over 70,000 fans, which many regard as the best US World Cup performance to date.

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, guaranteeing their place in the round of 32. Soccer legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic expressed strong support on FOX, urging fans to believe in the team’s chances, noting the nationwide backing and the difficulty opponents face against such support. He stated, "Yes, I think the US can win the World Cup."

The US suffered a 3-2 loss to Turkey in their third group match, but this result did not affect their advancement. Pochettino used the opportunity to rotate key players, indicating the loss was not a major setback. The US team is modeling their approach on South Korea’s 2002 World Cup run, where under foreign coach Guus Hiddink, the hosts reached the semifinals, achieving an unprecedented feat. The US squad’s strong performances and growing belief have positioned them as a surprising and serious contender in this World Cup.