USMNT Seen Reaching 2026 World Cup Last 16 as Balogun Emerges Key Player

Q: Can the USMNT's potent attack truly compensate for its leaky defense against the world's elite?

Probably not against the world’s elite — not on its own. The USMNT clearly has enough firepower to get out of Group D and trouble strong opponents. Folarin Balogun arrives in top form after a prolific season at Monaco, Christian Pulisic remains the team’s main attacking reference, and Ricardo Pepi, Weston McKennie, Sergiño Dest and Malik Tillman give Mauricio Pochettino multiple ways to create chances. Experts also point to a more coherent, attack-minded structure under Pochettino than the team had in previous cycles. The problem is that the defensive issues are not theoretical. The U.S. has gone eight straight matches without a clean sheet, and reports from recent friendlies and tune-ups repeatedly cite preventable goals, poor marking and positional lapses. Against elite opposition such as Germany and Portugal, those mistakes were punished. Chris Richards’ fitness is important because the back line has looked more vulnerable without him, while the goalkeeper spot remains less settled than in past U.S. World Cup teams. That does not mean the Americans cannot beat a top side in a single match. Home support, an expanded field, and the inherent unpredictability of tournament football give them a real chance to make noise. But history and current form suggest that against the best teams, attack alone is rarely enough. To reach the quarterfinals, the U.S. will likely need not just goals, but a sharper defensive structure, fewer unforced errors, and high-level goalkeeping.

3 articles · Updated · CBS Sports · Jun 11

Three expert projections all have the USMNT advancing from the 2026 World Cup group stage and exiting in the round of 16, with forecasts ranging from first to second in the group.
Folarin Balogun was the most common pick as the team's standout player, while Weston McKennie drew the strongest support as a breakout figure in Mauricio Pochettino's more attack-minded setup.
Those forecasts lean on a friendlier path in the expanded 48-team tournament, where 32 nations reach the knockout stage and hosts should benefit from home crowds and a more settled squad.
The bigger benchmark remains the quarterfinals: the U.S. have not reached the last eight since 2002, and several analysts said merely making the last 16 would be solid but not transformative.