The U.S. Men’s National Team discovered its World Cup fate last month. Next summer, the USMNT will face off in Group D, part of a historic 48-team tournament in the biggest World Cup ever. But what does this draw mean for the U.S.?
First, the expanded format keeps the familiar round-robin group stage, with three points awarded for a win, one point for a tie, and no points for a loss. However, the top two teams and the eight best third-place teams now advance (in 2022, no third-place teams advanced). Tiebreakers include goal difference and head-to-head goals.
Next, the group stage draw shaped the USMNT’s path. Qualified teams were placed into four pots: Pot 1 included the three host countries (the United States, Mexico, and Canada) and the highest-ranked teams; Pot 2 had the next 12 best, and so on. The U.S. drew Australia from Pot 2, Paraguay from Pot 3, and the winner of UEFA Playoff C (Türkiye, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo). On paper, this may seem like an easy group, but in reality, Group D is one of the toughest, with the fourth-best average FIFA ranking (32.1), according to Fox Sports.
The journey begins on June 12, when the U.S. faces Paraguay. The USMNT will look back on their 2-1 win over Paraguay in November, a match that ended in a brawl and a red card for the South Americans. Ranked 39th, Paraguay is led by winger Miguel Almirón (Atlanta United) and Diego Gómez (Brighton). Having upset South American giants like Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay in qualification, Paraguay enters as a dark horse.
Seven days later, the U.S. will face Australia. Australia comes from pot 2 and ranks 26th. With a spot in the knockout rounds at stake, every moment of the match will be intense. The Socceroos are known for their defense, forming a wall at the back by playing compact and deep defense. Because of this, they will rely on quick transitions to counters. The teams last met in October, in Colorado, with the U.S. edging out a 2-1 victory thanks to Haji Wright’s brace. On offense, Australia will look to use the explosive speed and skill of Nestory Irankunda (Watford) and the reliable Martin Boyle (Hibernian) to lead the attack. With both teams set on advancing to the next round, this match could decide both teams’ World Cup journey.
The last game of the group could be the most pivotal for the USMNT. On June 25th, all 4 teams of the group will kick off at the same time, with the U.S. facing off against the winner of the European playoff C. The best-case scenario would be for Kosovo to go through and take the last spot in the group. Kosovo has reached its highest rank ever, at 80th. However, the most likely team to go through would be Türkiye, ranked 25th, which means if they win the playoff, they would beat out Australia, as the second-highest-ranked team in the group. In June of last year, the USMNT suffered a 2-1 loss to Türkiye after scoring in the first minute. Türkiye would boast the most star players out of the American opponents. A young Arda Güler (Real Madrid), who scored when the two last faced, will help control the midfield and look to play Kenan Yıldız (Juventus) out wide. At 6’2”, Yıldız offers an excellent combination of speed, size, dribbling, and shooting that could cause a serious problem for the USMNT defenders, most likely Sergiño Dest (PSV) and Antonee Robinson (Fulham). Australia, Paraguay, and the U.S. can only wait until March, when the winner of the playoff will be decided.
Looking beyond Group D, the tournament is full of star power. Group L is headlined by England, led by Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) and Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), while Croatia seeks glory after a bronze and silver. Group J features Leo Messi’s (Inter Miami) final World Cup with Argentina. Group K looks to give Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr) and Portugal a clear path in Ronaldo’s last tournament. Group I is set for fierce matches with France, Norway, Senegal, and a playoff winner. Fans can look forward to duels in Group I, like Erling Haaland (Manchester City/Norway) versus Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid/France), in a goal-scoring match that won’t disappoint.
As nations prepare to chase soccer’s biggest trophy, this World Cup is bound to have unforgettable moments, new heroes, and fierce competition, all on the world’s biggest stage. With legends saying goodbye and rising stars making a statement, the countdown to the greatest competition in the world begins.
image found from New York Times