Riding high at a World Cup on home soil, the time is now for the USMNT

ESPN ^ | 07/01/2026 | Sam Gorden

[L.A.Justice]

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- The time is now.

Now to push the momentum of this tournament. Now to raise the level of the U.S. men's national team program. Now to reward the American fans who have dreamed of a team and a month and a chance just like this one.

Now to make history.

"This group," Gio Reyna said, "deserves something special."

It does. The old sports adage that success is when preparation and opportunity meet has never felt more meaningful for an American men's team: The U.S. has its most talented roster of players. Its most successful coach. A favorable draw. And a home FIFA World Cup, where it is literally experiencing the most frenzied and widespread support it has ever known. (Chris Richards said his daughter told him that even the children's entertainer Blippi recently put out national team content.) The players are doing their best not to dwell on it and are trying to stay present, just as they should. But they're also aware of the reality that this round-of-32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday needs to be nothing less than the first step on a road to something far, far greater.

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TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: california; eurosoyboys; soccer

[L.A.Justice]

First, the U.S. hasn't done well -- like, at all -- against European teams in recent years. They've lost ten straight matches against European opponents in all competitions, and in World Cups, the Americans have only one victory in their past 21 matches against European opposition (a group stage win over Portugal in 2002).

Good luck to USMNT...Playing Bosnia at 8 PM (ET) tonight at Levi's Stadium...Santa Clara, California...

Best finish by USMNT...2002...USMNT went as far as Elite Eight...Lost to Germany...

It would be nice if USMNT went as far as Elite Eight this year...But, that would be hard...If USMNT wins tonight, it will face Belgium in Sweet Sixteen...

[Hebrews 11:6]

Pick up the ball.