The USA progressed through a tricky Group B to the knockout stages, but it will only get harder in the next phase of the competition to keep moving forward.
An impressive draw with England will give them confidence they can compete with some of the bigger names in the tournament, though they’ll need to be clinical if they wish to make a run in Qatar.
Gregg Berhalter’s side scored just two goals in their three group stage matches, but their stingy defense (zero goals allowed from open play) will give them a chance to reach the latter stages if it continues.
Sportsmail have had a look at the USA’s potential and likely route to the final of the World Cup they are going to have to conquer if they want to lift the Jules Rimet trophy for the first time ever.
A trip to the World Cup final would certainly keep a smile on Gregg Berhalter’s face
Last 16 – Holland
The USA’s matchup with Holland was confirmed on Tuesday when Groups A and B concluded, with a tie vs. the Oranje on the cards for the first time ever in a competitive fixture.
Holland comfortably topped Group A after beating Senegal and Qatar and drawing Ecuador, and conceded just one goal in what proved to be an extremely straightforward group.
The Americans needed a win vs. Iran to secure qualification to the knockout stages, and did so via a Christian Pulisic goal in the first half.
Holland’s Virgil Van Dijk stands in the way of a potential quarterfinal for the USMNT
While Holland weren’t overly tested in the group stages, they weren’t so dominant either.
They registered just eight shots in target in Group A, and an athletic USA side should be the stingiest test they’ve faced yet in Qatar.
Quarterfinal – Argentina or Australia
If the Stars and Stripes are able to pull off an upset in the Round of 16, they’ll likely have an even tougher test waiting for them in the quarter-finals.
Argentina recovered from a stunning opening-match loss to Saudi Arabia by brushing aside Mexico and Poland, and wound up topping Group C with six points.
The Albiceleste obviously boast supreme individual talent in Lionel Messi and others, but looked a bit disjointed in the group stages. Nonetheless, they’re considered one of the favorites to lift the trophy at the end of the tournament.
Less likely, but possible, is a meeting with Australia.
The Socceroos (six points) only finished below France on goal difference in Group D, as a surprising win vs. Denmark on Wednesday buoyed them to the knockout stages.
Semifinal – Japan, Croatia, Brazil or South Korea
If the US can make it to this point, which would already be their best finish since 1930, a test vs. Brazil would be the most likely scenario.
The Selecao secured qualification to the knockouts after just two games with wins over Switzerland and Serbia, before losing to Cameroon with a heavily-rotated lineup on the field.
Neymar’s health is a question mark but Brazil could still trouble the USA without him
While Neymar was initially suspected to return for the knockout stages after sustaining an ankle injury vs. Serbia, his health for the rest of the tournament bears watching as his status for the Round of 16 remains in question.
If Brazil cannot overcome the potential loss of their talisman, there are three other possibilities for the US in the last four.
Croatia scraped to the knockouts after holding Belgium to a 0-0 draw, Japan were surprise group winners over Spain and Germany, and South Korea broke Uruguayan hearts with a stoppage time winner vs. Portugal to clinch qualification.
Final – England, France, Spain or a potential wild card
England and France are on the same side of the bracket after both topping their groups, and only one of them could potentially meet the USA on December 18 in a bid for the trophy.
Besides those two, Spain look a reasonable bet to go the distance despite stumbling to Japan on Matchday 3, while Portugal will look to bring an aging Cristiano Ronaldo a first World Cup on his likely last try.
Any other outcomes from that side of the bracket would be a genuine Cinderella story.
Senegal, Poland, Morocco and Switzerland all advanced from the group stages, but none have lifted a World Cup.
If the USA can improbably get to the last hurdle of the tournament, they’ll have made it through an absolute gauntlet.
But in a tournament full of upsets, why don’t we give them a chance to do it.
