The US Men’s National Team has clinched a spot in the knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Paraguay defeated Turkey, mathematically guaranteeing the Americans a top-two finish in Group D. With 6 points from two matches and a goal difference of +5, the USMNT has won the group outright.
How the US got here
The campaign started with a statement. On June 12, the USMNT dismantled Paraguay 4-1, a scoreline that raised eyebrows across the tournament. Then came the Australia match on June 19 at Lumen Field in Seattle. The US won 2-0, a more controlled, defensively disciplined performance. They did it without Christian Pulisic, who sat out with a calf injury, making the clean sheet even more impressive.
Two wins from two. Six points. A +5 goal differential. The last time the USMNT won consecutive matches at a World Cup was 1930. That’s not a typo. Ninety-six years ago, when the tournament was held in Uruguay and featured 13 teams, the Americans strung together back-to-back victories. They haven’t done it since, until now.
The Group D standings after two rounds tell the story clearly. The US sits first with 6 points. Australia and Paraguay are tied on 3 points each, with Australia holding second on goal difference. Turkey sits bottom with zero points from two matches.
