World Cup 2026: The Rocky Road for the US Team to the Final

According to a TTXVN reporter in Washington, the US team will play their round of 32 match in Santa Clara, California on July 1. As the winners of Group D, the US has been set by FIFA to face one of the third-placed teams from Groups B, E, F, I, or J in a bracket system that allows for various possible arrangements. As a result, the US opponent is Bosnia and Herzegovina, who finished third in Group B with 4 points.

If they beat Bosnia and Herzegovina, the US will secure their first World Cup knockout victory since reaching the quarterfinals in 2002. If they advance, the US will face the winner of the match between Belgium and a third-placed team from Groups A, E, H, I, or J on July 6 in Seattle. Belgium topped Group G with 5 points and previously defeated the US 5-2 in a friendly in March. Belgium's potential opponents in the round of 32 include South Korea, Senegal, Algeria, and Austria.

The US path to conquering the 2026 World Cup would have been easier if Egypt had beaten Iran instead of drawing 1-1 on the evening of June 26. That result left Mohamed Salah's team with the same 5 points as Belgium atop Group B. Under FIFA's new regulations, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head record. However, since Egypt and Belgium drew their direct encounter, goal difference was used to separate them, favoring the "Red Devils" with +4 compared to Egypt's +2. Belgium is currently ranked 10th in the FIFA men's rankings, while Egypt is 26th.

If the US team replicates its 2002 quarterfinal feat, Spain—the winner of Group H—will likely be their opponent among the top eight. As of June 27, La Roja is the only team already confirmed to be in this branch. Spain will face the runner-up of Group J in their first knockout match on July 2. The runners-up of Groups K and L will meet in the round of 32, and the winner will then face Spain.

A match between the US and Spain, Colombia, or Portugal on July 10 in Los Angeles would be the toughest challenge that coach Mauricio Pochettino's squad has faced so far in the tournament.

The US team has reached the World Cup semifinals once before. That was in 1930, the first World Cup in history, when the tournament had only 13 teams and a very different format. At that time, the US was just one win away from the final.

Nearly a century later, if they win three consecutive knockout matches, it would be the best achievement in US soccer history at the World Cup, and it would also mean they have overcome a series of global football powers along the way.

There are many possibilities for opponents in the semifinals, and it will be an extremely tough challenge at AT&T Stadium in Arlington on July 14. The other half of the bracket that the US is in includes giants like France and Germany—teams that have won a combined six World Cup titles—along with the Netherlands, who eliminated the US at the World Cup in Qatar four years ago.

In addition, teams such as Paraguay (whom the US beat 4-1 in their opening group match), Sweden, Morocco, and co-host Canada could also be present.

If a miracle happens, the US team will be at MetLife Stadium on July 19 to play the World Cup final. Fans can fully imagine the electrifying atmosphere sweeping across the United States ahead of what would be the biggest match in the nation's soccer history.

In the other half of the bracket are a host of global football giants. Brazil (5-time champions), Argentina (defending champions and 3-time winners), and Mexico have all secured their spots. England and Portugal could also appear in this bracket depending on their group stage results.