The U.S. Men's National Team opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign with a 4-1 win over Paraguay at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on June 13, 2026. It was the kind of start that gives a host nation momentum and leaves the rest of Group D chasing.
Tim Ream said the burden is obvious when the tournament is being played in front of a home crowd that stretches far beyond the stadium. “You're playing for 330 million people. That's a big deal. There's added responsibility, added eyes. But at the same time, it's the ultimate goal, the ultimate honor,” he told CBS News, adding, “I have no doubt that we could potentially win.”
The result matters because this World Cup is being staged by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and for the United States it is the first time in 32 years that the tournament has come home. The competition is larger than ever, with 48 teams and 104 matches spread over 39 days, and the U.S. is trying to turn a promising opener into a deeper run after reaching the Round of 16 in Qatar in 2022 and missing out entirely in Russia in 2018.
But the clean start does not settle much. The U.S. is still in Group D and still has at least three group-stage games in June, which means the path to the round of 32 depends on results that have not yet been secured. The format rewards the top two teams in each group and the eight third-place teams with the most points, so a strong opener helps, but it does not remove the math.
That math turns sharp as soon as the knockout rounds begin on June 28. If the U.S. finishes first in Group D, it will play on July 1 at 8 p.m. ET at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. If it finishes second, the next stop is July 3 at 2 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. From there, the round of 16 runs from July 4 to July 7, the quarterfinals from July 9 to July 10, the semifinals on July 14 and the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Ream's confidence fits the scoreline, but the real test is still ahead. A home opener can energize a campaign; it cannot guarantee the bracket will open the way the U.S. wants.
