United States

The United States men's national team, the USMNT, has grown from a soccer outsider into one of CONCACAF's powerhouses, drawing on a deep youth system and a growing pool of players starring in Europe's top leagues. Backed by a passionate and rapidly expanding fanbase, the Stars and Stripes blend athleticism and organization with an increasingly technical modern generation led by Christian Pulisic. As co-hosts of the 2026 World Cup alongside Mexico and Canada, the U.S. enters a defining era for the sport in America.

The U.S. played at the very first World Cup in 1930, reaching the semifinals to claim third place — still their best-ever finish. They authored one of the tournament's greatest upsets in 1950, beating England 1-0 in Belo Horizonte, before a long absence ended with qualification in 1990. The Americans reached the quarterfinals on home soil in 1994 and again in 2002, when they knocked out rivals Mexico in the round of 16. After shockingly missing 2018, they returned in 2022 and reached the knockouts, and will host the expanded 2026 finals.