The U.S. men’s national team is staring down its biggest obstacle: the round of 16 at the World Cup.
Since 2002, the USMNT has not advanced past the round of 16 at the World Cup and reaching the stage, even in the expanded 48-team edition of the tournament, was seen by many as the absolute bare minimum for 2026. Yet, with how swiftly the Stars and Stripes won Group D and pushed past Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, there are now bona fide dreams of the Americans winning the entire tournament.