The U.S.'s World Cup path: Every opponent, every obstacle, every outcome

In certain sports, the United States stands as the dominant world power. We've won 119 of 121 World Series, 79 of 80 NBA Finals, 60 of 60 Super Bowls and all 12 College Football Playoffs. In World Cups on the men's side, though? Eh, not so great. Not even close to great, honestly.

The United States has won exactly one (1) knockout match in all of World Cup history. Think about that for a second. While Brazil and Argentina and Germany and France are stacking up titles, America spends every fourth year getting spanked the moment it ventures out of the warm confines of the group stage. Every World Cup, we tell ourselves it's going to be different, and every World Cup, we're sent off to bed hours before the big kids.

This year, though, it's really going to be different.

The USMNT is coming into the knockout stage riding two victories and a loss with a built-in excuse (we were resting our best, of course). With the apparently elusive combination of talented players and a manager who knows how to get the best out of them, the United States is as well-positioned as any in World Cup history to make a deep run. How deep? Well, now that's the real question, isn't it?

We've listed the most dangerous potential opponent in each round. (Yes, every World Cup opponent is dangerous, as Germany can attest, but these are the biggest dogs.) We've also included the current projections for the United States to advance as developed by The Athletic. Together, these will give a sense of what's ahead for the USMNT. Spoiler: It ain't easy. At all. But nothing worthwhile ever is, right?

Round of 32

This is the first time that the World Cup has featured a "round of 32," meaning a victory in this round still only leaves a team in the final 16, the same place as every previous World Cup team that advanced out of the group stage. But there's something about a victory in an all-or-nothing knockout round that hits a little differently, you know? Given that the USMNT hasn't won a knockout game since 2002, this would be a good sign that the team is on the right path. Round of applause all the way around.

Opponent: Bosnia & Herzegovina

Chances to advance: 72 percent

What if USMNT loses? Not quite disaster, since America advanced out of the group stage, but wow, what a tremendous letdown. And the same old questions about America's soccer competence would persist.

Round of 16

This match is scheduled for July 7, which is a real shame because if it had taken place on Independence Day, well, America would have scored in double figures. Alas. If the USMNT reaches this stage, it'll have to comfort itself with the thought that it has an opportunity to do something no American team has ever done: win two knockout-stage games. A victory here would mean the United States could start looking toward the next World Cup with something less than a feeling of dread and nausea … which would be a nice change of pace.

Toughest potential opponent: Belgium

Chances to advance: 31 percent

What if USMNT loses? Eh. A good result, but nothing remarkable. No reason to blow it all up, but then, no reason to think we're on anything but the same lukewarm, 45-mph path. (This, unfortunately, is the most likely outcome.)

Quarterfinals (final 8)

Yeah. Yeah. Now we're getting somewhere. Win in those earlier rounds, and you might get a sandwich named after you or a "Meet a real USMNT player!" day at the county fair. But advance through the quarterfinals and reach the last four? (Not Final Four™, that's property of the NCAA.) Well, that would be an unparalleled achievement for an American team, and we would bandwagon-hop onto this team like it was the Lakers, Dodgers and Cowboys all rolled up in one.

Toughest potential opponent: Spain

Chances to advance: 9 percent