USMNT clinches Group D in 2026 World Cup with Paraguay win

With its win against Australia coupled with Paraguay earning a 1-0 victory against Turkey on Friday, June 19, the U.S. men's national team has won Group D at the 2026 World Cup. It's the first time the USMNT has won its group since the 2010 World Cup.

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The USMNT is off to a stellar start at this World Cup, winning its match Friday against Australia 2-0, and doing so without Christian Pulisic, who was nursing a calf injury. The U.S. opened the tournament with an impressive 4-1 win over Paraguay, featuring a brace from Folarin Balogun.

After collecting six points through two matches (coupled with a plus-5 goal differential), the Stars and Stripes then needed Paraguay to defeat or draw Turkey on Friday night to win the group. Paraguay came through against Turkey, despite playing with 10 men for much of the game. Matías Galarza put Paraguay on the board in the second minute with the fastest goal of the World Cup so far.

This is the first time the United States has won two games in group play and earned six points. They have one Group D match left, facing Turkey on Thursday, June 25 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

After its final group stage match, the U.S. continues its World Cup journey in the Round of 32 on Wednesday, July 1 against the third-place team of either Group B, E, F, I or J at Levi's Stadium in the Bay Area.

The World Cup has an expanded field of 48 teams this summer, which created an extra knockout round.

The U.S. previously won its group in the 2010 World Cup with a late goal from Landon Donovan in a match against Algeria. The USMNT needed that win to outlast England. The American side also topped their three-team group in the 1930 World Cup.

The United States is co-hosting the tournament with Mexico and Canada. They previously hosted the World Cup in 1994, when the team made it to the Round of 16 and were knocked out by eventual champions Brazil.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: USA soccer clinches World Cup Group D with Paraguay win

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