With the 2026 FIFA World Cup less than a year away, it is never too early to start talking about one of sport’s most polarizing events. 18 teams have already qualified for the tournament, of the record-setting 48 that are set to compete. The first team that we will be shining the spotlight on will fittingly be the United States men’s national team, representing the Meadowlands and all the other American cities hosting the tournament.
The United States clinched its spot in the tournament the second that they secured the joint bid with Canada and Mexico as host nations. Any country that hosts the FIFA World Cup is automatically given entry into the tournament, bypassing the typical procedures.
The U.S. national team has a deep-rooted history within the Garden State, as its first-ever international match was against Canada in Kearny, New Jersey on Nov. 28, 1885. The United States doesn’t take the sport of soccer as seriously as many rivaling nations, which has generated mild success for the team over its history. They have routinely finished around the middle of the pack through recent World Cup contests, ending the 2024 tournament in 14th place.
The team’s best placement came in the 1930 World Cup, the first one they ever competed in, where they finished in 3rd place. Their second-best performance was more recent, finishing in 8th place at the 2002 World Cup.
The United States national team will look to be rolling out many of the same players in their squad, including New Jersey’s own Matt Turner, Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams and many other players. One notable change in the team comes not from the roster, but at the coaching position. Mauricio Pochettino took over the role of head coach for the U.S. men’s national team in 2024, bringing a handful of experience to the job. Pochettino had previously coached at Tottenham Hotspur, Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea before arriving at his current role.
The team’s last match ended in success, as they took down Japan 2-0 in a friendly match. Goals from Alejandro Zendejas and Folarin Balogun propelled the team to victory, which serves as a good sign for the future. Japan is among the higher-level teams, signifying hope for the U.S. men’s national team in the upcoming World Cup.
The United States will be hosting the World Cup for the first time since 1994, where they were eliminated in the round of 16, a common theme for them in the tournament. This year, the team will hope to improve from their new change at the coaching position and take advantage of their homefield advantage to shock the world.