LOS ANGELES — The United States men's national soccer team advanced to the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a strong group-stage campaign, finishing atop Group D despite a 3-2 defeat to Türkiye in its final group match earlier this week.
The Americans secured first place in the group by winning their opening two matches, defeating Paraguay 4-1 before following with a 2-0 victory over Australia. Those results guaranteed qualification before the final group fixture, allowing head coach Mauricio Pochettino to rotate his squad while preserving the team's position at the top of the standings, according to U.S. Soccer.
The group-winning finish marks one of the strongest World Cup starts in U.S. men's national team history. U.S. Soccer said the team collected a program-record six points in a World Cup group stage and advanced to the knockout rounds after only two matches for the first time in the tournament's current format. It also marked the first time since 1930 that the United States won its opening two World Cup matches.
Pochettino said the team's primary objective had been accomplished despite the loss to Türkiye.
"The objective was to finish first, and we are first," Pochettino said after the match, according to U.S. Soccer. "Now, it's the next stage. It's going to be a final, and we are ready."
The United States opened the tournament with an attacking display against Paraguay before shutting out Australia to clinch a place in the knockout phase. U.S. Soccer said the squad also set a national team record by scoring eight goals during the group stage, while Pochettino used extensive squad rotation that saw 21 different players start across the three matches.
Players said the early qualification reflected growing confidence within the squad while emphasizing that attention quickly shifted to the elimination rounds.
"You know, if someone said before the tournament two games and you're through to the knockouts, I think we all would have took it," striker Folarin Balogun said after qualification was secured, according to U.S. Soccer. "We're delighted."
The expanded 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, introduced a Round of 32 for the first time. The United States will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in Santa Clara, California, on July 1 after completing the group stage as Group D winners, according to FIFA's confirmed knockout bracket and U.S. Soccer.
