USMNT’s path to the 2026 World Cup final: The knockout road as the bracket becomes clear
World Cup 2026
USMNT vs. ParaguayLatest NewsDaily RecapPlayers to WatchTeam GuidesUSMNT’s path to the 2026 World Cup final: The knockout road as the bracket becomes clear
The USMNT had plenty to celebrate during the opening stage of the World Cup after topping Group D Jared C. Tilton / FIFA / Getty Images
By Paul Tenorio and Henry BushnellJune 27, 2026 Updated 1:03 am EDTGet free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic app.
The United States’ path through the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds came into focus on Friday when potential opponents in the round of 16 and quarterfinals locked up Groups G and H, respectively.
The U.S. already knows that it will play Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 on July 1 in Santa Clara, Calif. (8 p.m. ET, Fox), and that, for the next several days, will be its focus.
“We’re not looking past Bosnia,” U.S. captain Tim Ream said Thursday. “We’re not looking past the round of 32.”
But after Friday, fans can. The U.S. learned that the two other first-place finishers in its quadrant of the knockout bracket will be Belgium and Spain.
Those two teams, therefore, would arguably be the most likely U.S. opponents in the round of 16 at Lumen Field in Seattle on July 6; and in a quarterfinal on July 10 at SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles.
There are, however, still a somewhat wide range of potential opponents beyond those favorites.
Here’s a round-by-round look at the possibilities.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side got off a victorious start with wins against Paraguay and Australia. (Alex Livesey / FIFA via Getty Images)Last 16
The winner of the U.S.-Bosnia match will play five days later against either Belgium or a third-place qualifier from Group A, I or J.
Belgium came from behind to top Group G with a 5-1 win over New Zealand, while Egypt failed to beat Iran in a simultaneous game and slipped down to the runner-up spot.
The identity of the third-place team will be determined on Saturday. South Korea, from Group A, is the most likely contender, but is still awaiting other results to find out if it will advance. If it doesn’t, Senegal, from Group I, is the next most likely participant. And lastly, either Algeria or Austria could emerge from Group J.
Any of those third-place teams would have a very real chance to beat Belgium in the round of 32 on July 1 in Seattle.
All, however, would probably be underdogs against the U.S. on home soil. This, including the Bosnia matchup, is just about the kindest path to the quarterfinals that the Americans could have hoped for. Although they lost to Belgium 5-2 in March, the Belgians have looked blunt at this World Cup, especially with Jeremy Doku still recovering from an illness.
USA continue to dream ahead of the round of 32Tom BogertQuarterfinal
Come the quarterfinals, though, it will get much tougher.
Spain, as expected, beat Uruguay on Friday to win Group H. The defending European champions will play the runner-up from Group J (either Algeria or Austria) in their first knockout match.
Their round-of-16 opponent would then be a runner-up from Group K or L. The Group K runner-up will be either Colombia or Portugal. The Group L runner-up will most likely be Croatia or Ghana, but could also still be England.
Any of those teams, therefore, could meet the U.S. in the July 6 quarterfinal at SoFi — if the Americans get there, of course. Spain, Colombia or Portugal would be by far the strongest U.S. opponent yet.
Spain and Lamine Yamal loom as a potential quarterfinal hurdle for the Americans. (Patrick Smith / FIFA / Getty Images)Semifinal
Spelling out all semifinal possibilities is a fruitless endeavor, but we at least now know the top contenders in each quadrant of the bracket.
The U.S. and Spain are in the bottom left. In the upper left, on the semifinal collision course, are Germany, France, Canada, the Netherlands and Morocco. France, which bulldozed its way through Group I, is currently the betting favorite to win the tournament.
This semifinal would be at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on July 14.
The World Cup final is July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
Final
This is it. The impossible dream. Mauricio Pochettino has delivered the U.S. to the promised land.
It’s a final now for the group winners and at this point, does it matter who the opponent is? The U.S. is in heaven, enjoying the spoils that come with the most improbable run in the tournament’s history. The talk now is about how such success will impact the growth of the sport in the country, and whether the U.S. lifts the trophy or not, it would be guaranteed that this team would be remembered as the greatest American men’s team of all time.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
