Christian Pulisic talks USMNT chances at the 2026 World Cup - how far can they go?

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FT Desk

Christian Pulisic has been discussing the United States' chances of making an impression at the 2026 World Cup.

The USA are tournament hosts alongside Mexico and Canada and so there is extra pressure on them to not only progress through the group stage, but to make the country proud with a positive showing in the knockout stages, too.

Pulisic, one of the team's higher-profile players due to his status as a player for European giants, AC Milan, reckons the USMNT needs to take things step-by-step.

"I think the first step is having a good group stage, coming out strong, taking care of business, and getting ourselves through the knockout round," Pulisic told Athlon Sports.

"It's just going to be playing as a team and trusting in the work that we've put in.

"I think we have great players and good coaches that are going to help us get to that point. Once you get to the knockout rounds, I just feel anything can happen.

The US are in a group alongside Australia, Turkiye and Paraguay, undoubtedly one of the toughest groups this summer.

Concerns were raised when they lost 5-2 and 2-0 to Belgium and Portugal in a round of international friendlies in March, but head coach Mauricio Pochettino and his men will need to shake off any apprehension, starting with the opener against Paraguay in Los Angeles.

"I just feel you get one or two things to go your way, and you work extremely hard and trust in the way that we're playing, and trust the guys that we have, and I just feel anything can happen. And that's how deep runs can happen," Pulisic added.

USA's best finish at a FIFA World Cup came in the very first edition of the tournament in 1930 when they finished third. It remains the best result for a CONCACAF team in the competition.

From 1954 to 1986 they failed to qualify, and since the turn of the century their best finish came at the quarter-final stage in Japan in South Korea in 2022.

In their last two World Cup appearances they were eliminated at the Round of 16.