LOS ANGELES — The United States entered its final Group D match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with advancement already secured, after results earlier in the group stage guaranteed the co-host nation a place in the Round of 32 and first place in its group.
The Americans clinched their knockout-round berth on June 19 with a 2-0 victory over Australia in Seattle, a result that left them with six points from two matches and ensured progression regardless of the outcome of their final group-stage game against Türkiye. Reuters reported that the win, achieved without injured captain Christian Pulisic, secured the United States a place in the next round.
Subsequent results in Group D confirmed that the United States would also finish atop the standings. The defeat of Türkiye by Paraguay eliminated the Turkish side from contention and locked the Americans into first place before the final round of group matches, according to U.S. Soccer and tournament standings.
The United States opened the tournament with a 4-1 victory over Paraguay before defeating Australia. Those performances gave Mauricio Pochettino’s team six points and a superior head-to-head position over its closest rivals in the group.
“With one group game to go,” the United States had already secured advancement, U.S. Soccer said after the Australia match. The federation noted that the team would finish first in Group D, marking only the third time the U.S. men’s national team had won its World Cup group.
Attention then shifted to squad management ahead of the knockout stage. Pulisic, who missed the Australia match because of a calf injury, returned to training this week. Speaking before the Türkiye game, he said he felt ready to return, although team officials indicated decisions on playing time would depend on fitness assessments.
The expanded 48-team World Cup, being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, sends the top two teams from each group and the best third-place finishers into a Round of 32. The Americans secured qualification earlier than in any previous World Cup campaign, according to tournament records and team officials.
Mexico also advanced from the group stage and finished first in its group, while several other teams confirmed places in the knockout rounds as the final round of group matches continued across the tournament.
As of Friday, the United States had completed group play with its knockout-stage berth already assured. Tournament organizers said the Americans would next face a third-place qualifier in the Round of 32, with the final opponent dependent on results elsewhere in the competition.
