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Former U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Tim Howard understands the early success this group has in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but he doesn’t think they will be hoisting any trophy at the end of the tournament.
In fact, Howard thinks it’s “impossible” for them to win the World Cup.
“The U.S. can’t win the World Cup outright,” he said on his “Unfiltered Soccer” podcast with former USMNT teammate Landon Donovan. “The U.S. will have to play the best game they’ve ever played … four games in a row. Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, finals.
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USA 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 US to win the World Cup. That’s just the reality.”
However, Donovan was a bit more optimistic than the Hall of Fame goaltender.
“Can we? Yes. Has this group proven they can beat a top team? No,” Donovan added. “If they play the way they play, they can absolutely 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 that marked the most goals scored by Team USA in a World Cup game. They then followed that up with a commanding 2-0 win over Australia on Friday to clinch a place in the knockout rounds.
Donovan believes Mauricio Pochettino’s group are building momentum which could ultimately help them make the Cinderella run.
United States goalkeeper Tim Howard stands on the pitch 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, quarter, semi, final. That’s where it gets really tough,” Donovan explained. “But momentum will kick in, you never know.”
The USMNT still have one Group D game remaining as they face Türkiye on Thursday, which will only affect who they face in the new round of 16.
It is a new format for the World Cup as the expanded group from 32 to 48 teams has now led to a round of 16 instead of the usual round of 16. The top two teams in each group, as well as the eight best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout rounds.
While this game doesn’t technically matter for the United States, Pochettino will surely emphasize its importance in order to continue to build on the momentum they have created through their first two matches.
Christian Pulisic had an assist in the first half of the USMNT World Cup opener against Paraguay. (Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Photos)
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Also, the status of Christian Pulisic, the team’s superstar midfielder who sat out against Australia with a left calf injury, will again be under scrutiny heading into the final group stage match. Given that the place in the knockout stages is assured, it will be interesting to see if Pochettino decides to err on the side of caution and put Pulisic back again to ensure he is ready for the knockout stage.
Can they pull through in these games and shock Howard with a run to the finals? The sky is the limit for this group that has spoken out so far.
