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Former US men's national team goalkeeper Tim Howard understands the early success this group is having at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but he doesn't believe they will lift any trophies at the end of the tournament.
In fact, Howard believes it is “impossible” for them to win the World Cup.
“The United States cannot, unequivocally, win the World Cup,” he said on his “Unfiltered Soccer” podcast alongside former USMNT teammate Landon Donovan. “The United States will have to play the best game they have ever played… four games in a row. Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.
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United States goalkeeper Tim Howard plays during a match against Azerbaijan at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California, on May 27, 2014. (Michael Burns/ISI Photos/Getty Images)
“It's literally impossible for the United States to win the World Cup. That's the reality.”
Donovan, however, was a little more optimistic than the Hall of Fame goaltender.
“Can we? Yes. Has this group shown they can beat a superior team? No,” Donovan added. “If they play like they do, they can compete with any team in this World Cup. For sure.”
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So far, the USMNT has had strong wins against Paraguay, a 4-1 victory marking the most goals scored by Team USA in a World Cup match. They then followed it up with a commanding 2-0 victory over Australia last Friday to book a place in the knockout rounds.
Donovan believes Mauricio Pochettino's group is gaining momentum, which could ultimately help them make the Cinderella run a reality.
United States goalkeeper Tim Howard is on the field before the CONCACAF Gold Cup final against Jamaica at Levi's Stadium on July 26, 2017. (Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports)
“I've said this over and over again. Can you do it four times in a row? Can you do it in the round of 16, the quarterfinals, the semifinals, the final? That's where it gets really difficult,” Donovan explained. “But momentum gets going, you never know.”
The USMNT still has one more Group D match left as they will face Türkiye on Thursday, which will only affect who they face in the new round of 32.
It's a new format for the World Cup as they expanded the pool from 32 to 48 teams, which now led to a round of 32 instead of the usual round of 16. The top two teams in each pool, as well as the eight best third-place finishers, will head to the knockout rounds.
While this game technically doesn't matter for the US, Pochettino will surely emphasize its importance to continue building on the momentum they have built during their first two matches.
Christian Pulisic had an assist in the first half of the USMNT World Cup opener against Paraguay. (Images by Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn)
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Additionally, the status of Christian Pulisic, the team's superstar midfielder who did not play against Australia due to a left calf injury, will again be under the microscope heading into the final group stage match. Considering the knockout stage spot is assured, it will be interesting to see if Pochettino decides to be cautious and sit Pulisic once again to ensure he is ready for the knockout match.
Can they advance those games and surprise Howard with a run to the finals? The sky is the limit for this group that has so far made a statement.
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