The USMNT officially opened its account at the 2026 World Cup courtesy of an early own goal by Paraguay’s Damián Bobadilla. The USMNT kicked off its highly anticipated 2026 World Cup campaign in the best possible way at Los Angeles Stadium, finding the back of the net just seven minutes into the opening match against Paraguay. The breakthrough came during a frantic and energetic opening sequence. While Paraguay initially looked to dictate the tempo with an aggressive press, Mauricio Pochettino’s backline absorbed the early pressure with composure before executing a fluid counter-attack. Following a brilliant string of one-touch passes down the flank, Christian Pulisic sliced inside and drove the ball toward the center of the box. Juventus midfielder Weston McKennie collected the pass neatly, immediately whipping a low cross into the six-yard box looking to connect with an incoming forward. Faced with intense pressure, Paraguayan midfielder Damián Bobadilla intercepted the cross at full speed, inadvertently bundling the ball directly into the back of his own net. The costly own goal broke the deadlock and sent the home crowd in Los Angeles into absolute raptures, giving the United States an early 1-0 advantage in Group D. OWN GOAL. 1-0 USA! 🇺🇸THE @USMNT SCORES FIRST AND LOS ANGELES IS ABSOLUTELY ELECTRIC! pic.twitter.com/tEbJU8E9PX— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) June 13, 2026 USMNT aims to surpass 2002 World Cup run While the USMNT’s best historical finish at a World Cup came during the inaugural tournament in 1930, where they finished third, their most iconic modern campaign was the legendary run to the quarterfinals at Korea-Japan 2002. In that edition, the USMNT shocked the soccer world by surviving a daunting group that included co-hosts South Korea, Poland, and a heavily favored Portugal side, whom the Americans upset in an epic 3-2 thriller on matchday one. After advancing as the group runners-up and sent the star-studded Portuguese home early, Bruce Arena’s squad set up a high-stakes Round of 16 clash against their longtime regional rivals, Mexico. It was on that stage that rising phenom Landon Donovan cemented his legacy, scoring the dagger to secure a historic 2-0 victory over El Tri and punch the U.S. ticket to the quarterfinals. In the next round, despite outplaying powerhouse Germany for large stretches of the match, the Americans fell just short, dropping a heartbreaking 1-0 decision on a Michael Ballack header to cap off an unforgettable tournament run.
Real Madrid also among midfielder’s potential suitorsCastellanos an option for Everton amid likely exitsManchester United are leading the race to sign Mateus Fernandes from West Ham. The midfielder also has interest from Arsenal, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, but the strongest early moves have come from United as they look to boost Michael Carrick’s squad.West Ham hope to receive £80m for Fernandes, although they may face financial pressure to drop their asking price after their relegation from the Premier League. The club lost £104.2m last year and need to raise more than £100m in transfer sales this summer. Continue reading...
In a super-sized edition that makes Australia a middle power their young squad can budget for four matches at the tournament with the hope of more⚽️ How to watch the Socceroos | Australia team guide⚽️ Guide to all 1,248 players | Bracketology | World CupThe selections, the sessions, the sweat left steaming on the Oakland grass. These are all now behind the Socceroos, as they fly to Vancouver to begin an adventure that comes around just once every four years.Australia’s best men’s footballers are back again at the World Cup, this time in a super-sized edition that makes a nation that was once a football underdog a middle power. Continue reading...
How foolish of me to think Arsenal’s Champions League loss was going to dampen my mood on the World Cup … The 2026 FIFA World Cup finally got underway on Thursday after years of anticipation. What promised to be the biggest World Cup, not only in team size, taking place across North America had big […]
The last time the US hosted Men’s World Cup games was in 1994, when Alexi Lalas was out on the pitch. The USMNT’s talent pool and profile have continued to grow steadily over the last couple of decades, but they haven’t found the signature breakout performance to transform their international reputation. The Americans enter the […]
Christian Pulisic won't be the captain of the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup. While it may not be hugely relevant to the way a team plays, the captaincy is always an important role in competitions like the 2026 World Cup. Perhaps to the surprise of some, Christian Pulisic will not be wearing the armband for the USMNT this time. The decision was made by manager Mauricio Pochettino, who explained in a press conference before the friendly match against Senegal why he chose Tim Ream as the USMNT captain for this edition. Pochettino said: “I am so grateful that he is with us because he has been a great captain, not only on the field but, more importantly, off it. He has the experience and the qualities to be the leader we want, a positive leader who sets the example and reflects our values both on and off the field.” Ream as the team’s captain Experience was a major factor in Pochettino’s decision to hand the role to the 38-year-old defender, who reacted to the honor by saying: “Wow. I am not sure what to say. Thank you. Yeah, this is more than a dream come true.” Ream was picked by the manager (Jamie Squire/Getty Images) This did not come as a surprise to those close to the team because Ream had been captain in 16 of the 23 matches the USMNT played under Pochettino, with the recent friendlies adding to that total. Ream said: “At the same time, it’s not going to change what I do, or who I am, and how I help the group. Thank you. It’s the highest honor for me, with this group and for the World Cup, and I’m not going to take that for granted.” Ream’s career Ream has enjoyed a long career that began with the New York Red Bulls in 2010 before he moved to the Premier League with Bolton Wanderers. The defender later joined Fulham, where he played more than 300 matches, including seasons in the Championship. His current club is Charlotte FC after signing in 2024. His 82 appearances for the USMNT also helped him earn the captaincy.
