Team USA World Cup News and Notes

We’re just over a week away from the start of the 2026 World Cup, which is taking place in North America for the first time since 1994. Among the 48 teams in the field is Team USA, as the men’s national team tries to make a sustained run in the tournament. The goal is to go deeper than any of the modern era iterations of the squad has in recent tournaments.

Team USA has reached the round of 16 in three of the last four World Cups, including in 2022. Their best run, other than their third-place finish in 1930, was a run to the quarterfinals in 2002. Let’s take a look at what Team USA brings to the pitch and what they are contending with as they try to stage a run.

Team USA: The Rundown

Manager: Mauricio Pochettino

Key Contributors: Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Weston McKennie, Tim Weah, Ricardo Pepi, Haji Wright, Folarin Balogun, Matt Turner, Chris Richards

Team USA: Recent Form

In their most recent international friendlies, Team USA posted a mark of six wins, one draw and four losses dating back to last June. Narrowing the timespan to the 2026 calendar year, the Americans have posted one win, no draws and two losses. Team USA was clubbed 5-2 by Belgium back on March 28 in Atlanta. That was followed by a 2-0 blanking at the hands of Portugal March 31, also in Atlanta.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, Team USA earned a hard-fought 3-2 win over Senegal. In that contest, Pulisic scored his first international goal since November 2024. That has to be a weight off his shoulders with meaningful matches on the horizon.

As it stands, Team USA has one more international friendly ahead of the start of group play. They square off with Germany Saturday afternoon at 2:30 pm ET. That match comes to you from Soldier Field in Chicago, home of the NFL’s Bears.

Team USA Group Schedule

Friday, June 12: vs. Paraguay

Friday, June 19: vs. Australia

Thursday, June 25: vs. Türkiye

Group D doesn’t seem daunting at first glance. After all, Team USA downed Paraguay 2-1 in a friendly last November. In addition, they beat Australia 2-1 in a friendly last October. Türkiye proves to be the stiffest test in group play as they have quality talent. They beat Romania and Kosovo by identical 1-0 scores in the  qualification playoffs to earn their spot in the World Cup field.

In addition, Türkiye drubbed North Macedonia 4-0 in a friendly on Monday. They’ll have a friendly with Venezuela Saturday in Fort Lauderdale in their final tune-up. There are no pushovers in this group, so Pochettino is going  to have to get his big guns firing here.

Biggest Question

The big concern for Team USA is simple: can they get by with the way that Pochettino constructed his roster? Team USA has just four midfielders on their roster, compared to 10 defenders, six attacking midfielders/wingers and three strikers. That puts a lot of pressure on Tyler Adams and Christian Roldan in group play.  Adams is injury prone and missed time this season with an assortment of injuries.  Roldan has ability. The issue for him is the level of competition. He simply hasn’t faced talent at the elite level that most sides are going to roll out in the World Cup.

Injuries are another point of concern for Pochettino and his squad. Defender Chris Richards tore two ligaments in his ankle in Premier League action playing for Crystal Palace on May 17. He’s been rehabbing but recent reports have him doubtful at best for the opening match of group play against Paraguay. That alone could force Pochettino to juggle his plans as Richards is one of the more experienced defenders with 36 international caps to his credit.