World Cup: USA Have Huge Chance To Make Semi-Final After Australia Win

He joined in April 2024, having previously worked at VAVEL as Deputy Editor-in-Chief, where he produced a variety of content, including pieces from press conferences and games. He also won an award for his role as lead editor for the Women's Football section of the online newspaper.

Covering football all across Europe, he has worked at stadiums such as Anfield, Old Trafford, and Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park, as well as having reported at both the 2023 men's and women's Champions League finals in Eindhoven and Istanbul.

He is infatuated with every aspect of football, but likes other sports as well, being an avid coffee-desperate Buffalo Bills supporter from across the pond and a darts' newbie. Sign in to your GiveMeSport account USA's possible opponents for the remainder of the 2026 World Cup have been mapped out after Mauricio Pochettino's side made a barnstorming start to the tournament. A 4-1 win over Paraguay in their opener set the tone, while Friday night's 2-0 victory over Australia saw them achieve something they had not managed at football's showpiece event since 1930 - winning back-to-back matches.

Folarin Balogun, Malik Tillman, and Sergino Dest have been among the standout performers so far, and the Stars and Stripes now need just a draw against Türkiye in their final group game to book their place in the Round of 32 as group winners. In many ways, they have already gone a long way towards proving they are far more of a footballing nation than many outsiders ever gave them credit for.

What's more, a glance at the USA's potential route through the knockout stages is only likely to fuel the growing belief around the camp. Confidence is understandably high after such an impressive start, and some supporters are already daring to dream after the performance of one star this weekend.

While there is still a long road ahead and plenty of twists and turns to come, the draw appears to have opened the door for Pochettino's side to make a deep run and potentially make history if they can keep this momentum rolling.

As things stand, the USA would face Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 - a side that needed penalties twice to come through qualifying. Given the form Pochettino's men have shown so far, they will be confident of overcoming a nation currently ranked 64th in FIFA's World Rankings.

Victory there would set up a last-16 tie against either New Zealand or the Czech Republic, according to the BBC's live knockout bracket updater. On paper, neither presents an insurmountable obstacle, offering a realistic chance of progressing even further.

The draw remains relatively kind beyond that, too. As it stands, Uruguay are the highest-ranked team they could face in the quarter-finals, unless Ghana, Austria, or tournament debutants DR Congo can spring a surprise and eliminate the two-time world champions beforehand.

A place in the semi-finals would mark the USA's best World Cup finish since 1930, when they reached the final four and eventually placed third. That alone would represent a major achievement, although a meeting with one of Brazil, Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, or Morocco would almost certainly be the end of a fairytale run-in.

Of course, some perspective is required given the USA are yet to face a traditional footballing powerhouse. Even so, much of their early success - which has helped generate a real feel-good factor around the host nation - stems from Pochettino allowing his players to play with the handbrake off.

While many managers in charge of an underdog would favour a more rigid approach, often accepting they are unlikely to dominate possession, the former Tottenham boss has instilled a belief within his squad that they are good enough to dictate games themselves. As a result, the USA have played with confidence on the ball and been given the freedom to express themselves in attacking areas.

The reason why FIFA made a slight change to USA's national anthem during their second 2026 World Cup game has emerged.

They look a completely different side from the one seen under Pochettino's predecessors, and that transformation owes as much to a change in mentality as it does to improvements in player development. The growing profile of MLS has undoubtedly played its part too, helping create an environment in which more top-level talent can emerge and flourish.

A win against Turkiye next week will be their biggest statement of intent yet, given the two nations are in similar positions whereby its time for their growth to make way for results.