2026 will be the year for the USMNT in the World Cup

It has been eight years since the United States Men’s National Team played in the World Cup. The USMNT getting eliminated by Trinidad and Tobago in 2017 was the lowest point in team history. It was an utter and complete embarrassment. Despite the disappointment then, they’re back and as exciting as they’ve ever been. The goal has been to put U.S. Soccer back on the map and prove that they can compete with anybody on the planet.

So far, they have done exactly that. They put together one win and two ties to tally up five points and advance to the round of 16. It has been amazing to watch, from Tim Weah scoring the first goal against Wales to Christian Pulisic scoring on a volley against Iran to advance the U.S. into the knockout stage. However, it has not been entirely pretty.

The USMNT is the second-youngest team in the World Cup. This entire team is new to the magnitude of the national stage. Despite players such as Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Matt Turner, Sergino Dest and others playing for prominent European clubs, they are still young and haven’t gained this kind of experience before. It is too much to ask this team to win the whole thing this year, right?

That is where I conclude that the 2026 World Cup is ours to take. I know the U.S. is still in it, but they face a tough Netherlands team on Saturday, Dec. 3, and our attack has been inconsistent. To me, 2026 is the year to make real noise. The World Cup will be in North America (primarily the U.S.), so we will have a home-field advantage over the many different countries coming in.

Along with that, our young and promising team will have gained four more years of experience on top of one World Cup experience. It is all lining up for 2026. Our youngsters playing for prominent European clubs will be in their mid-twenties and considered to be in their prime years. With that argument comes the thought that this year’s World Cup may be the most important for this team. Being able to prove themselves, despite their youth and inexperience, could show that they can compete with anyone in the world. And so far, they have done that.

No matter the outcome from here on out, this young team advanced to the knockout stage and learned valuable lessons about themselves and their team. This may be the confidence these players and this national team need to start a new era for the USMNT. It is cool to see all these young players playing, too. We can witness the development of these young and upcoming stars and watch how much they can transform over time. With that being said, many of these current USMNT players will likely return to the roster in 2026.

Between these four years, we will likely witness the same players being on this national team. The only difference is that we hope the version we see in 2026 is even better than the one right now. Soccer has never been a huge sport in the U.S. But, seeing legit hope and promise in this national team has caught the attention of the entire country and world. The U.S. is close to putting itself back on the map. Do not take this team and these next years for granted, as we are witnessing some of the most exciting and talented soccer we have ever seen in this country.

If you haven’t paid much attention to U.S. Soccer before, now is a great time to start. We may be entering a new era of American soccer that we have never witnessed before. So, watch the USMNT this Saturday and beyond. Pay attention these next four years, and keep in mind that 2026 is the year for U.S. soccer.