Sports

Poll: How Far Can USMNT Go in 2026 World Cup?

[Editor's note: Welcome to Athlon Sports' poll of the day, where we ask readers to weigh in on the biggest topic of the day. Thanks for voting, and be sure to sound off in the comment section.]

The long wait is over, and the world is watching. Thursday marks the beginning of the 2026 World Cup here in North America. The opening match is a Group A meeting between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET, Fox).

Spain (+450 at DraftKings) is a slight favorite to win the World Cup, just ahead of France (+475). Defending champ Argentina has the sixth-best odds at +900, though no country has repeated as World Cup champion since 1962.

The United States, whose first match is Friday vs. Paraguay, has the 14th-best odds at +9000. The USMNT has never won the World Cup; its best finish in the modern era was a quarterfinals appearance in 2002. Led by coach Mauricio Pochettino and star player Christian Pulisic, hopes are high for the USMNT. So…

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This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 4:30 AM.

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