Add The New York Post on Google The United States men’s national team has spent decades trying to convince the world it belongs among soccer’s elite.
Now, after two matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it is forcing everyone to pay attention.
Friday’s 2-0 victory over Australia secured the Americans a place in the knockout stage with one group match still to play, something no U.S. team had accomplished before. Combined with Paraguay’s 1-0 victory over Turkey, the U.S. officially clinched first place in Group D.
The accomplishment adds to a growing list of milestones for a team many have labeled America’s “Golden Generation.” Now attention turns toward July 1 and Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., where the Americans will face a third-place finisher from Groups B, E, F, I or J in the round of 32.
The overwhelming favorite remains the winner of Wednesday’s game between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Qatar. If either side wins, it is almost certain to become the United States’ next opponent.
Why? Well the answer is complicated, but before the tournament, FIFA published 495 possible permutations of all results, and in 60 percent of those permutations, the winner of Qatar and Bosnia-Herzegovina advanced to play the Americans in the round of 32.
A draw, however, would throw the door wide open and create a dizzying collection of possibilities stretching across Europe, Africa, Asia and South America.
So who would the United States want to see standing across the field in Santa Clara? Here’s a look at the top 10 realistic possibilities from easiest to toughest:
The dream draw. Curacao’s story has been the surprise of the tournament, but after a 7-1 shellacking by Germany, and its current ranking, it would be outmatched against the Americans.
Like Curacao, who played Ecuador to a 0-0 draw on Saturday, Jordan is competing in its first World Cup. Its run is impressive, but the talent gap is significant.
Bosnia has produced spirited performances but lacks the star power of previous generations. If Bosnia beats Qatar and lands here, the U.S. should enter as a clear favorite.
The Americans would have more quality, but Iraq’s defensive discipline could turn the match into a tense, physical battle that stays close longer than expected.
The reigning Asian champions have World Cup experience and are comfortable absorbing pressure, but the U.S. would still have the better roster.
Tunisia is organized, compact and difficult to play against. The U.S. would likely control the match but could find goals hard to come by.
This is where things start getting uncomfortable. The physicality, aerial dominance and tournament experience of Sweden, who fell 5-1 to the Netherlands on Saturday, have troubled quality opponents for decades. Nothing would be easy in this matchup.
Algeria has enough match-winners to punish mistakes and has a surprisingly strong attack.
One of Africa’s most talented squads, it is explosive and dangerous in transition.
Ecuador might be one of the most underrated teams in the tournament, with a 19-game unbeaten streak that was snapped in a 1-0 loss to Ivory Coast.
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Striker Erling Haaland would steal the show and Norway currently has a golden generation of its own. The U.S. could win, but this would not be a favorable matchup.
Austria’s tactical organization makes it extremely dangerous.
The team nobody wants to play. The movement, technical quality and relentless pressing of Japan, 4-0 winners over Tunisia on Saturday, have made it a nightmare matchup for many nations.
The toughest potential opponent on the board, but the U.S. just beat Senegal 3-2 in a friendly in North Carolina in May.
The bottom line is that if Wednesday produces a winner between Bosnia-Herzegovina and Qatar, that is the most likely opponent for the United States. But if the match ends level, chaos ensues.
The United States could play anyone from Curacao to Senegal and the talent gap is enormous.
The good news is that regardless of the opponent, the United States would be the higher-ranked team and through two matches has looked organized, confident and dangerous.
Regardless of who Team USA plays, it’s the opponent that should be worrying about its match against America.
We’ll find out exactly who that is soon enough. July 1, under the bright lights of Levi’s Stadium, the road to a potential World Cup Final will begin.
