"Yes! Let's go USA! Chastain exclaimed from her perch on the second floor surrounded by more Bay Area soccer royalty, Chris Wondolowski and Leslie Osborne. The source of her excitement was the slip of paper that Shaquille O'Neal was unfurling ahead on a panel of television screens, signifying arguably the most-favorable draw for the Americans. The toughest competition the U.S. will have to overcome to advance to the knockout round and a potential match in Santa Clara are the Australians."
"You never know how it's going to go, what you think is a favorable draw may not be, said Wondolowski, the former San Jose Earthquakes star who suited up for the USMNT during the 2014 World Cup. But I think, as of today, it was a favorable draw. If the U.S. wins its group, it would advance to play a win-or-go home match in the Round of 32 on July 1 at Levi's Stadium."
Brandi Chastain and about a hundred fans and local soccer figures gathered at a watch party near Chase Center for the 2026 World Cup draw. The U.S. was seeded into Group D and will face Australia, 39th-ranked Paraguay, and the winner of a March qualifier among Turkiye, Romania, Slovakia and Kosovo. Australia, ranked 26th, was viewed as the toughest challenge in the group but the least formidable Pot 2 option. The U.S., ranked 14th by FIFA, could advance from the group and play a Round of 32 match at Levi's Stadium on July 1. Levi's Stadium will host five group-stage matches June 13-26.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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