Breaking down the United States' path to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final as knockout play nears

The USMNT is flying high as Group D winners. Winning their first two games was historic. The nation is oozing with patriotism and ready to ride this wave all the way to the World Cup Final, but the road just got a little tougher after Belgium’s big win on Friday. Now it’s time to break down the USA’s path to what would be their first World Cup Final appearance in history.

USA opens the knockout stage on July 1 in Santa Clara, California, against Bosnia and Herzegovina, a third-place finisher from Group B.