Can USA win the 2026 World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup is now edging closer with each year passing, and the qualifiers from around the world now are well and truly set. With the world cup set to be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, some soccer fans are considering the United States one of the favorites for the tournament because of the home advantage. Let's take a look at the host's chances in the upcoming world cup.

USA winning chances in the 2026 world cup?

In the 2022 World Cup, hosted in Qatar, the USA was eliminated by the Netherlands after losing the match  3-1. The squad had potential that year, but the lack of experience affected their performances. Now, those players once considered teenage talents have grown and could be key players for the squad. Players such as Weston Mckennie, Tyler Adams, Christian Pulisic and Timothy Weah, all have the potential to take USA on an exciting journey in the upcoming World Cup. 

With the disappointment in the last World Cup, fans of USA believe they have strong chance of winning the World Cup, supported by their passionate fans on home soil. Alongside this talented USA team, other nations are also aiming for glory. Countries such England, France, Reigning Champions Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Germany and Netherlands are all favourites to win the tournament, making the USA's path to victory far from easy.

Standout players for USA

The USA is known for having individual players who can make a difference, especially in close matches. Over the years, standout players like Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey have been pivotal for the team. Everyone knew how good they were, with Donovan known as an MLS legend and Dempsey is regarded as one of the Premier League's greats. Looking ahead to the next world cup, the USA's hopes rest on players like Antonee Robinson, Timothy Weah, Weston Mckennie, Tyler Adams and Christian Pulisic to make a significant impact.

All these players have matured significantly since the last World Cup. In 2022, many were still considered young and inexperienced, but now they have developed into stronger, more experienced players. Their improvement and growth is why the nation is rooting for them in the upcoming World Cup. The USA has a strong team with promising players, but other countries also have talented squads, making the competition tough.

Image Credits: US Soccer Official

Mauricio Pochettino effect and USA's Home Advantage

In September 2024, USA have appointed former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea head coach, Mauricio Pochettino as their new manager. Many were surprised by this decision, as few Soccer expected Pochettino to take the job. This shows the country's ambitions for next world cup, recruiting a top coach to boost their chances of going all the way. Pochettino typically plays with a 4-2-3-1 formation, with the #10 player position roaming freely, and wingers stay wide, creating space for fullbacks to make forward runs.

This formation suits the USA perfectly, as they have players who can play in most of the required positions, although some positions are stronger than others. As a coach, Pochettino won the French league in 2021 with PSG and led Tottenham Hotspur to a Champions League final in 2019, losing to Liverpool. He is highly respected in the football world, which is why I believe he is an excellent appointment for the USA.

The USA’s home advantage could play a significant role in their World Cup journey. With passionate fans getting behind their team, the squad will aim to use this advantage. Many players in the USA lineup have experience playing in the MLS, giving them experience with the stadiums and an understanding of how electrifying the atmosphere can be. Ultimately, it will come down to the manager and players to prove their worth and inspire their fans to get behind them.

USA's past performances in the World Cup

USA's record in the World Cup has been underwhelming when looking at the team's performances in recent tournaments. In the last World Cup, USA was knocked out by the Netherlands in the Round of 16, ending their journey in the first knockout stage. Their best ever finish came in the first ever 1930 World Cup, where they placed third. Since then, the USA's performances have been inconsistent, with their best result being a quarterfinal exit against Germany in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. After that, they were consistently eliminated in the Group Stage or Round Of 16 when they managed to qualify for the competition. This time, however, hopes are high that it will be a different story, and the team can unite the nation and make history for the first time ever.

Who will take part in the 2026 World Cup?

As of now, the teams for the next World Cup are yet to be determined, as the qualifiers will take place in 2025. USA, Mexico, and Canada have automatic qualification as host nations. the qualifiers are set to begin in 2025, with the aim of knowing all qualified teams by early 2026. Some nations will also compete in play off matches in 2026 to secure their spots in the World Cup. Last edition's winner, Argentina, is expected to be one of the favorites once again. We are expecting a similar lineup of teams to qualify, with a few surprising nations possibly making the cut. We'll keep you updated next year as teams begin to secure their places in the World Cup.

Image Credits: FIFA

How does a World Cup work?

Countries from around the world will compete in qualifying competition within their respective continental confederations for a spot in the World Cup. For the first time in World Cup history, 48 countries will qualify for the tournament rather than the normal 32 countries spots. This aims to give more countries the chance to qualify, providing soccer fans with even more exciting and nail-biting action. Once the teams qualify, they will be split into Groups of four, with each team playing against the others in their group to secure a spot in the Round of 16. From there, the bracket will determine potential opponents, leading all the way to the final match to crown the World Cup champion.

We hope you're excited as we are, and we can't wait for the next World Cup to arrive, especially to see how the USA will perform in it. 

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