How USMNT Can Take Advantage Of Finishing 1st In Its World Cup Group
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 19: Alex Freeman of USA celebrates scoring a goal to make the score 2-0 with his team-mates during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Australia at Seattle Stadium on June 19, 2026 in Seattle, United States. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
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It’s incredible how quickly loyalties can change in the FIFA World Cup.
In your first game, your opponent is your enemy as both teams try to get off to the best possible start.
Exactly a week later, that side has become your friend, because it is playing another enemy.
That was the case for the U.S. Men’s National Team.
On Friday, June 12, the Americans rolled over Paraguay in their cup opener, 4-1, to secure three valuable points.
Exactly a week later, on Friday, June 19, the same U.S. squad, which had blanked a tough, physical Australian side, 2-0, was rooting for Paraguay against Türkiye. A win or a draw by South Americans would ensure the USA the Group D title and an easier path to the knockout round. They would have faced stiffer competition if they finished second or third.
Matias Galarza scored 65 seconds after the opening kickoff, the fastest goal in the competition to date. Paraguay made that goal stand up.
The South Americans did not make it easier on themselves. They played the final 45 minutes with 10 men, after Miguel Almiron was caught holding his hand over his mouth while talking to an opponent and was red-carded deep into first-half stoppage time.
Outside of the 1930 World Cup, when there were only three teams in the U.S. group, no American team had booked a spot in the knockout round after only two matches. It also gives head coach Mauricio Pochettino the luxury of resting several players and giving the injured Christian Pulisic more time to recover from his left calf injury. The USA’s next game of consequence would be in the Round of 32 in Santa Clara, on July 1, 11 days away.
Pochettino faces several decisions before the team’s final Group D match at SoFi Stadium against Türkiye in Inglewood, Calif., on Thursday, June 25.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 12: Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States controls the ball during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)
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Let Pulisic recover
Pulisic, the face of the team, hasn’t played since he was taken out at halftime of the 4-1 romp over Paraguay on June 12. He was kicked in his left calf, and he has been rehabilitating it since.
For the past week, he has been undergoing modified training by himself with a staff member.
We don’t know the 27-year-old forward’s condition. But with so much at stake in the Round of 32 and beyond, it would be wise not to use Pulisic.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JUNE 19: Tyler Adams of USA applauds the fans at the end of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Australia at Seattle Stadium on June 19, 2026 in Seattle, United States. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
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Sitting out the yellow card players
Four starters who have made big impacts were awarded yellow cards – midfielder Tyler Adams in the first game against Paraguay, and defenders Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson, and forward Folarin Balogun vs. Australia.
According to tournament rules, players who accrue two yellow cards in the group stage must sit out a Round of 32 contest.
It would not be surprising if Pochettino decided not to use those players.
Using that quartet in what is essentially a useless game would be playing with fire. For the USA to go deep in the tournament, it needs every available player at full throttle and not relegated to the sidelines.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 12: Weston McKennie #8 of the United States applauds the fans after the team’s victory in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Alex Livesey – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
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How about the rest of the starters?
Pochettino has two options. He might want to start many of the reserve players to give them some action. Or, he might want to continue the momentum and not let the team get rusty. No doubt it is a delicate balancing act. It should be noted that no other USMNT coach in the 96-year history of the competition has the luxury of those many options.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 12: Mauricio Pochettino, Head Coach of the United States, celebrates after the team’s victory in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Alex Livesey – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
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The path in the knockout round
The Americans are guaranteed at least one more game after their group finale on June 25. They will play a third-place team from either Group B, E, F, I, or J.
The team’s schedule is locked in. Here is its path to the final:
Round of 32 – Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif., July 1
Round of 16 – Lumen Field, Seattle, July 6
Quarterfinal – SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Calif., July 10
Semifinal – AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas, July 14
Final – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J., July 19
Queen Elizabeth II (1926 – 2022) presenting the World Cup trophy to England captain Bobby Moore (1941 – 1993) while the Duke of Edinburgh (1921 – 2021) looks on at Wembley Stadium in London, July 30th 1966. England won the World Cup Final against Germany 4-2 after extra time. (Photo by UPI/Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)
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A bit of host history
We certainly would be way getting ahead of ourselves to think about the U.S. winning World Cup as a host team. There are plenty of quality teams that are vying for that honor. And remember, there are two other host countries in this competition, Mexico and Canada.
It is a rare occurrence when a host team has paraded around with the FIFA World Cup trophy after a final.
In the previous 22 editions, only six host teams have won the World Cup: Uruguay (1930), Italy (1934), England (1966), West Germany (1974), Argentina (1978), and France (1998).
Success can be relative. Going deep in the competition can be considered a great success. For example, before the 2002 tournament, very few observers gave South Korea much of a chance of going deep. The co-host Koreans reached the semifinals, losing to Germany, 1-0. It was considered quite an achievement for a country that did not have a great soccer reputation.
Michael Lewis, the sixth recipient of the Clay Berling Media Career of Excellence Award in 2025, can be followed on X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky at @Soccerwriter. His 10th soccer book, Around the World Cup in 40 Years: An American sportswriter’s perspective, has been published.
