2026 World Cup: US Team Confident to End the 'European' Nightmare

According to a TTXVN correspondent in Washington, long before the opening whistle of the World Cup sounded, US head coach Mauricio Pochettino did not hesitate to set extremely high expectations for a nation that has always believed the ball should be oval-shaped. And after the US players finished the group stage in first place, he remained confident that the team's goal is not merely to play one or two matches in the knockout rounds.

Pochettino is aiming to capture the ultimate prize. Speaking to the media, he emphasized, "Making history means winning the World Cup." However, to achieve the pinnacle of world football, the Americans must overcome the continent that has haunted them for nearly five years. That is the length of time since the US last defeated a European team. Blocking their path this time is Bosnia and Herzegovina, a former Yugoslav republic, which is participating in the World Cup for only the second time as an independent nation.

Although the US is favored to advance to the Round of 16, one thing is certain: the team nicknamed Zmajevi (the Dragons) will not make it easy for the hosts. Bosnia and Herzegovina's coach, Sergej Barbarez, warned: "We will try to create many problems and, of course, we want to win." No other team among the 32 that reached the knockout stage committed more fouls than Bosnia, with 46 infractions in the group phase. And this team makes no secret of its aggressive, physical style of play.

Bosnia has previously delivered fatal blows to giants. Despite being ranked 61st in the world, they secured a spot in this tournament by eliminating four-time world champion Italy in a playoff match earlier this March. Ironically, the US's most recent victory against a European opponent came against none other than Bosnia in 2021. Since then, they have managed only two draws and suffered 10 consecutive defeats, falling to powerhouses like Germany as well as weaker sides such as Slovenia.

Nevertheless, the Americans are still heavily favored in their clash with Bosnia on July 1. The Opta supercomputer gives the US a 78.5% chance of advancing and a 42.5% probability of reaching the quarterfinals—a journey that might require them to defeat another European representative, Belgium, in the Round of 16. However, there is another number that Coach Pochettino must consider: 2.5%. That is the percentage chance that people believe in the scenario of the US winning the World Cup.