USMNT Players React to Winning Group D

SEATTLE – The U.S. Men’s National Team has won Group D at FIFA World Cup 2026, the third time in program history that the USMNT has clinched first place in its group at a FIFA World Cup. The team previously accomplished the feat in 1930 and 2010.

The U.S. will finish atop the table after the result of Paraguay-Türkiye in San Francisco late Friday night. Paraguay scored the fastest goal so far at FIFA World Cup 2026 and defeated Türkiye 1-0, despite going down to 10 players, to stay in contention for second or third in Group D.

With the loss, its second of the group stage, Türkiye will finish fourth in the group and not qualify to advance.

The U.S. secured a berth in the knockout stage of the tournament with a massive 2-0 win today over Australia, the eighth-ever shutout for the USMNT at a FIFA World Cup. Through its first two group stage matches, the USA has collected six points, the highest-ever point total for the USMNT at a World Cup.

“You know, [if] someone said before the tournament two games and you're through to the knockouts, I think we all would have took it,” striker Folarin Balogun said. “We're delighted."

"Enjoy this win for the next hour or two, then [the] focus shifts immediately to beating Türkiye on Thursday,” goalkeeper Matt Freese added.

The win over Australia on June 19 was the second for the U.S. at FIFA World Cup 2026. In a high-stakes match that featured the top two teams in Group D, the U.S. put on a confident performance to preserve its perfect record at Seattle Stadium.

"I think people can see what we're capable of as a team,” striker Ricardo Pepi said after today’s match. “Of course, it gives [us] a lot of confidence. It builds team chemistry, and we're ready for the next game."

First place in Group D will send the USMNT to San Francisco Bay Area for the Round of 32 match. The U.S. will face the third-place team from either Group B, E, F, I or J in the first round of single elimination.

First, the U.S. will take on Türkiye on Thursday, June 25 at Los Angeles Stadium. Although the USMNT enters its final group stage fixture with a date booked to the Round of 32, players have been extremely focused, set on not looking too far ahead. One game at a time has proven to be the motto for the U.S. so far, a strategy they won't be changing anytime soon.

"We're going to focus on us and see the best way to try and get three wins and go into the knockout rounds with even more confidence,” fullback Antonee Robinson said.

"It's one game at a time,” midfielder Sebastian Berhalter added. “We know that. That's how we've been since day one, just trying to take it one game at a time and do the best we can."