Three Bold Predictions for the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup
Sports Illustrated • • sports
Key Points:
- The U.S. men’s national soccer team (USMNT) will begin their 2026 World Cup campaign against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, followed by matches against Australia in Seattle and Türkiye in Los Angeles.
- Ticket sales for the opening match have been sluggish due to high prices, potentially leading to a less passionate atmosphere and a significant Paraguay fan presence, which could make the USMNT feel like the away team.
- Sports Illustrated predicts the USMNT will finish the group stage with four points, likely beating Paraguay, drawing with Australia, and losing to Türkiye, advancing as a second-place finisher.
- If the USMNT advances, they are expected to face Iran in a politically charged round of 32 match, which they are predicted to win, but their tournament run would likely end in the round of 16 against a strong Argentina team led by Lionel Messi.