Why outsiders believe the USMNT can make a deep Wo...
Key takeaways
- In this bloated 48-team World Cup, the USMNT was always fancied to get out of its group with Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye.
- Against the Socceroos, it was a more measured performance but an own goal and one from Alex Freeman saw them win 2-0, a match Pulisic sat out through injury.
- So, as the U.S. prepares for its round-of-32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina, what can we expect?
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
Celebrities pack their matches out -- the cameras picked out Ed Norton, Brad Pitt, Leonardo Di Caprio, Paris Hilton, Jessica Alba and Will Ferrell at their last match -- and it feels like the spotlight is growing ever brighter on them with every passing match.
In this bloated 48-team World Cup, the USMNT was always fancied to get out of its group with Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye. But to win it? Well, perhaps not. The U.S. started out with a wonderful 4-1 win over Paraguay, where Christian Pulisic thrilled and Folarin Balogun scored twice alongside an own goal and a beautiful strike from Gio Reyna.
Against the Socceroos, it was a more measured performance but an own goal and one from Alex Freeman saw them win 2-0, a match Pulisic sat out through injury. Then, with qualification already secure, head coach Mauricio Pochettino rotated for their final game with Türkiye and they lost 3-2, as Türkiye scored a late winner through Kaan Ayhan.