The US Men’s National Team just did something it hasn’t done in nearly a century. By winning their first two matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the USMNT became the first American squad since 1930 to open a World Cup with back-to-back victories.

A group stage for the record books

The USMNT finished atop Group D with six points and a goal difference of +4. Those are both records for the program at a World Cup.

The team scored eight goals across the group stage, setting a new benchmark for US World Cup performances in a single phase.

The headline result was a 4-1 dismantling of Paraguay on June 12, 2026. Folarin Balogun and Gio Reyna were singled out for standout performances in that match, a game that effectively sealed the Americans’ passage to the next round.

That advancement came faster than any previous USMNT squad in the 32-team World Cup format. Winning the first two matches meant the team’s knockout berth was confirmed before they even played their final group game.

Pochettino’s imprint

Coach Mauricio Pochettino deserves a significant share of the credit here. The Argentine manager, who previously led Tottenham Hotspur to a Champions League final and managed Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, brought a level of tactical sophistication and big-game experience that the USMNT has often lacked.

Analysts have declared this the best USMNT group-stage performance in history. That’s not hyperbole when you look at the numbers: six points, eight goals, +4 goal difference, and first place in the group.

The 1930 comparison is worth sitting with for a moment. That was the first-ever World Cup, held in Uruguay. The US reached the semifinals that year, but the tournament only had 13 teams and no proper group stage as we know it today.

What comes next

The reward for topping Group D is a Round of 32 matchup against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The expanded 48-team format for 2026 means there are more knockout rounds than in previous tournaments.