"There is the final pre-World Cup international window at the end of the month. There's also plenty of jockeying among the players to see who goes to the World Cup and who stays home. It is how the USMNT handles those situations that will ultimately determine how the team does."
"Using the old 32-team format as the barometer, you might've said the quarterfinals, but with this new 48-team field, it will take two knockout wins to get there. Is that feasible for this group, and is that a realistic expectation?"
"I do like the team's form right now. The trend is our friend. So I would say yes, I believe that the team can make it to the quarterfinals. But I would say if we make it to the round of 16, I think if we're playing against a really good team and lose."
The U.S. men's national team approaches the 2026 World Cup with 100 days remaining, marking a critical juncture after significant developments over the past 20 months. Following the 2024 Copa América failure and Mauricio Pochettino's appointment, the team has recovered from poor Concacaf Nations League performances. The final pre-World Cup international window and roster selection process will prove decisive. The expanded 48-team format requires two knockout wins to reach the quarterfinals, compared to one in the traditional 32-team structure. ESPN assembled former U.S. internationals and managers to evaluate the team's readiness and World Cup prospects, with assessments focusing on whether quarterfinal qualification represents a realistic and successful outcome.
Read at ESPN.com
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