United States have hit the ground running at the 2026 World Cup, and they’ll be hoping home advantage can inspire them to glory.
If there were any pre-tournament nerves, Mauricio Pochettino’s side certainly didn’t show them in their opening match against Paraguay, running out commanding 4-1 winners.
Get all the latest United States stats as the tournament unfolds. That includes the latest squad, manager and fixture information for the North American side here.
United States World Cup 2026 fixtures
United States opened Group D with a 4-1 rout Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12. Next up for the Stars and Stripes will be a clash with Australia in Seattle. They then return to California to complete their group campaign against Turkey on June 25.
READ MORE: Get the latest USA World Cup 2026 outright odds here
United States World Cup 2026 Stats
United States route to the World Cup
With United States being one of the co-hosts for next summer’s tournament, they haven’t had to qualify for the competition.
Instead, they have participated in the Gold Cup. There, they reached the final before being beaten by Mexico, and a series of friendlies.
They had mixed results in those friendlies, but things improved in time for their World Cup opener against Paraguay.
United States key players for World Cup 2026
United States top World Cup Golden Boot contender: Folarin Balogun
- Key stat: Folarin Balogun has scored five goals in his last six caps for United States.
Though facing competition from the likes of Ricardo Pepi, and Haji Wright, Balogun already appears to have made the centre-forward spot his own at these finals. The Monaco striker became only the second American to score multiple goals in a single World Cup match, following his well-taken brace against Paraguay. That will give him the confidence to kick on in the tournament.
United States primary playmaker: Christian Pulisic
- Key stat: Christian Pulisic has recorded four goal contributions in his FIFA World Cup career (one goal, three assists). Only Landon Donovan (five) has more for United States since 1966.
The home of Hollywood, Los Angeles is known for providing a stage to perform. Pulisic certainly grasped it in the first half of United States’ victory over Paraguay, causing mayhem to the opposing defence with a series of dangerous bursts from the left flank. One of those saw him provide an assist for Balogun’s opening goal as the attacking midfielder picked up from where he left off in Qatar, where he was involved in all three of his side’s goals.
United States card magnets & top tacklers: Tyler Adams
- Key stat: Tyler Adams has collected 15 yellow cards in all competitions since the beginning of the 2024-25 season at club level alone.
Adams has established himself in the United States squad, following a really successful period for both Leeds United and Bournemouth. He’s always been fond of a card, collecting 23 bookings and one red card since his arrival in England in 2022. That being said, he’s been a real force when it comes to tackling, making 40 tackles for Bournemouth in the 2025-26 Premier League season, at an average of 2.54 tackles per 90.
United States rising star: Alex Freeman
Alex Freeman is the latest young American talent to move to Europe, joining Villarreal from MLS outfit Orlando City in the January transfer window. The 21-year-old right-back is an adventurous player who likes to join in the attack and create chances, as proven with some dangerous runs against Paraguay. He has the physical profile to become a genuinely elite full-back over the coming years.
STAND-OUT STAT: United States have played more knock-out games than any team in World Cup history without ever playing in a penalty shootout (six).
United States set-piece specialists
- Penalties: Christian Pulisic
- Free-kicks: Christian Pulisic
- Corners: Giovanni Reyna
United States tactical analysis and formation
Team stats (average per game at the 2026 World Cup):
- Corners: 3
- Shots on target: 6
- Shots on target conceded: 1
- Offsides: 2
Mauricio Pochettino favoured a 3-4-2-1 formation in recent games before the World Cup, with plenty of rotation as he looked to determine his best XI, particularly in attack.
He went to a 4-2-3-1 for the opening match of the tournament against Paraguay. Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman and Weston McKennie were the chosen three in the middle of the park, with the latter in a more advanced position.
Chris Richards shook off an injury to join veteran skipper Tim Ream in what appears to be the preferred centre-half pairing in the heart of defence, while Folarin Balogun seemed to make the position at the spearhead of the attack his own.
Get the latest USA World Cup goals, assists, shots, passes and tackle stats here
United States manager analysis
Argentinian boss Mauricio Pochettino has been tasked with delivering a successful World Cup for one of the host nations this summer. Although he has never managed an international team before, he does have good pedigree from his spells with Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and most notably Tottenham.
Pochettino has always favoured attack-minded football with high intensity, but he is flexible with his shape and you suspect the Stars and Stripes will be well-suited to adapt to the different challenges that will face them this summer. As a player, he appeared at the 2002 World Cup with Argentina, memorably conceding a penalty in the 1-0 defeat to England.
| Coach | Team | P | W | D | L | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mauricio Pochettino | USA | 23 | 14 | 2 | 7 | 60.87% |
United States World Cup FAQs
Have United States ever won the World Cup?
No, United States have never won the World Cup. Their best finish came at the 2002 World Cup, when they reached the quarter-final, before being knocked out by Germany.
Where did United States finish in the last World Cup?
United States were knocked out of the 2022 World Cup at the round of 16, where they were bested by the Netherlands by a 3-1 scoreline. They had emerged from Group B, finishing second to England, but ahead of Iran and Wales.
Who will be United States captain at the World Cup?
Tim Ream will captain the Stars and Stripes at the 2026 World Cup. At 38 years, 250 days old, he became the oldest player to appear for them at the finals when he led them out against Paraguay.
Who is the United States’ top scorer at World Cups?
Landon Donovan and Clint Dempsey are tied for the most goals for United States on 57 each, but Donovan managed five of those goals at World Cups to Dempsey’s four. Those five goals for the former LA Galaxy man came in the 2002 and 2010 editions of the tournament.
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