The United States will head into the 2026 World Cup with the weight of a nation’s expectations weighing heavily on their shoulders.
Their run to the quarterfinals in 2002 sparked talk of the U.S. becoming a major player in international soccer, or football as it is called outside the United States, but they have failed to live up to that billing since then.
The appointment of former Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino in September 2024 was a statement of intent by U.S. Soccer bosses.
As co-hosts alongside Canada and Mexico this summer, the U.S. desperately needs to demonstrate that they are a force to be reckoned with on the international stage.
With that in mind, read on as we look at the team’s record under Pochettino, before assessing whether they can make an impact at the 2026 World Cup.
U.S. results under Pochettino
| DATE | COMPETITION | RESULT |
| 13/10/2024 | Friendly | United States 2-0 Panama |
| 16/10/2024 | Friendly | Mexico 2-0 United States |
| 15/11/2024 | Nations League | Jamaica 0-1 United States |
| 19/11/2024 | Nations League | United States 4-1 Jamaica |
| 18/01/2025 | Friendly | United States 3-1 Venezuela |
| 23/01/2025 | Friendly | United States 3-0 Costa Rica |
| 21/03/2025 | Nations League | United States 0-1 Panama |
| 23/03/2025 | Nations League | Canada 2-1 United States |
| 07/06/2025 | Friendly | United States 1-2 Turkey |
| 11/06/2025 | Friendly | United States 0-4 Switzerland |
| 16/06/2025 | Gold Cup | United States 5-0 Trinidad & Tobago |
| 20/06/2025 | Gold Cup | Saudi Arabia 0-1 United States |
| 23/06/2025 | Gold Cup | United States 2-1 Haiti |
| 30/06/2025 | Gold Cup | United States 2-2 Costa Rica (6-5 pens) |
| 03/07/2025 | Gold Cup | United States 2-1 Guatemala |
| 07/07/2025 | Gold Cup | United States 1-2 Mexico |
| 06/09/2025 | Friendly | United States 0-2 South Korea |
| 10/09/2025 | Friendly | United States 2-0 Japan |
| 11/10/2025 | Friendly | United States 1-1 Ecuador |
| 15/10/2025 | Friendly | United States 2-1 Australia |
| 15/11/2025 | Friendly | United States 2-1 Paraguay |
| 19/11/2025 | Friendly | United States 5-1 Uruguay |
| 28/03/2026 | Friendly | United States 2-5 Belgium |
| 01/04/2026 | Friendly | United States 0-2 Portugal |
World Cup 2026: U.S. handed tough group stage draw
The U.S. have been drawn in Group D this summer. Their fixtures are as follows:
- Sat, Jun 13, 2026 – United States vs Paraguay
- Fri, Jun 19, 2026 – United States vs Australia
- Fri, Jun 26, 2026 – Turkey vs United States
While a record of 14 wins and one draw in 24 matches is respectable, you would be hard pressed to argue that Pochettino’s time in charge has been productive.
Disappointments in the CONCACAF Nations League and Gold Cup were hugely disappointing for a team currently ranked 16th in the world.
After suffering a 2-0 defeat against South Korea in a friendly, Pochettino appeared to have things heading in the right direction over the next few games.
The U.S. won four and drew one of their next five outings, triggering talk that they were finally ready to go head-to-head with the world’s best teams.
However, defeats against Belgium and Portugal during the recent international break handed Pochettino and his players a much-needed wake-up call.
His comments to the media towards the end of last month smacked of a man who seems oblivious to the size of the task the U.S. face this summer.
When asked whether his team are genuine contenders to lift the trophy, he said: “Why not us? “Dreams inspire reality and we can win it because we are American.
“What I am saying is that I am here because I believe that we can win. I can tell people that I really believe that. Whether that happens or doesn’t happen, there are too many factors in the middle.
“But the most important piece is that we believe that we can perform and to compete and that we can earn what we want.”
While positivity can carry teams a long way in international football, Pochettino would be well-advised to inject a dose of reality into his preparations for the tournament.
The defeats against Belgium and Portugal highlighted where the U.S. lie in the global pecking order. Teams such as France and Spain are a level above that duo.
Talk of the U.S. winning the World Cup is fanciful particularly given that they are not guaranteed to make it out the group stage.
Paraguay claimed several impressive scalps during qualification, while Australia took four points from two testing fixtures against Japan.
Turkey’s squad is packed with players who ply their trade in the top leagues in Europe, yet the bookmakers think the U.S. are favorites to top the group.
With Pochettino yet to settle on a tactical identity and some of his top players struggling for form, the U.S. are undoubtedly a risky betting proposition.
While the extended 48-team line-up improves their chances of reaching the round of 32, it is impossible to argue they are a good bet to achieve the feat.
Hosting the tournament adds a level of pressure that the U.S. squad may be unable to handle and an early exit from the tournament cannot be ruled out.
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