The U.S. men’s national soccer team has drawn increased attention and confidence following their strong start at the 2026 World Cup, with both players and outside observers expressing belief in the team’s championship potential.

After securing a 2-0 victory over Australia, the United States clinched a spot in the tournament’s knockout stage for just the third time in its history, notably winning Group D with a match still remaining. This achievement has raised expectations among U.S. players and international commentators alike.

Swedish soccer legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, speaking as a commentator for Fox Sports, emphatically affirmed the U.S. team’s ability to win the tournament. “Yes,” Ibrahimovic stated when asked if the Americans could claim their first World Cup title. The 44-year-old former striker, who won 34 trophies during his career though never a World Cup, highlighted the momentum the U.S. currently holds: “Whatever happened before the World Cup is not as important as what happens now. Now is the momentum they have. If you didn’t believe before, I will repeat: Start believing. Have the country behind them.”

U.S. players have embraced this confidence. Center back Auston Trusty said the team shares a mindset focused on winning. “I don’t think you enter this tournament to not have that mindset,” Trusty said when informed of Ibrahimovic’s remarks. “But we’re taking it game by game, we’re focusing ourselves, and that’s all we can really do. To have him say that about us, that’s amazing.”

The U.S. will conclude its group play on Thursday at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles against Turkey, having already secured passage to the round of 32. Their opponent will be a third-place team from one of five other groups (B, E, F, I, or J). While the specific foe remains undecided, a likely candidate is the winner of the Group B match between Qatar and Bosnia-Herzegovina scheduled for Wednesday. Other scenarios could result in a variety of potential matchups, leaving the field open.

Team members maintain a measured approach to the competition. Center back Chris Richards acknowledged their ambitions while emphasizing their step-by-step strategy: “Every game, every tournament we play in, we want to win. I don’t think it’s ridiculous to say that we want to win. Obviously, we have a lot more games before we get to that moment, but we take it one game at a time. We want to win a trophy at the end of this.”

Former U.S. captain Tony Meola has suggested that reaching the quarterfinals should be the team’s initial target, while Bruce Arena, who coached the team to the 2002 World Cup quarterfinals, voiced optimism about even broader goals. “There’s no reason to believe that we can’t be a team that can get through the round of 32, challenge in the round of 16, and maybe dream of being in quarterfinals and possibly semifinals,” Arena remarked.

Center back Tim Ream echoed the positive outlook, noting the team’s potential when fully cohesive. “I don’t think it’s surprising to any of us. We’ve known what this team is capable of if we put everything together,” he said.

The U.S. squad will next face Turkey on June 26 before preparing for its knockout stage match set for July 1 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.