World Cup 2026: USA's potential opponents in knockout round after clinching its spot in the Round of 32

With another dominant performance in group play via a 2-0 win over Australia Friday, the U.S. men's national team has improved to 2-0 and clinched its spot in World Cup knockout round.

That much is known. As of Friday evening, little else is clear about whom USA will play once the World Cup does advance to the Round of 32. But the list of possibilities has been whittled down and could be further narrowed late Friday depending on the result of the other Group D game between Türkiye and Paraguay.

World Cup schedule | Group schedule, results | StandingsWith Friday's win and a 4-1 win over Paraguay in the first round, USA sits in first place in Group D and can finish no worse than second out of four teams, which guarantees advancement. If Paraguay beats Türkiye or plays it to a draw Friday night, USA will clinch first place in Group D. If Türkiye beats Paraguay, then first place in Group D would come down to the results of the final round of group play scheduled for next week.

Folarin Balogun and Antonee Robinson a goal against Australia that helped USA clinch a spot in the World Cup knockout round.Al Sermeno/ISI Photos via Getty ImagesScenarios if USA wins Group DIf USA wins Group D, it will face the third-place team from either Group, B, E, F, I or J in the Round of 32. That scenario keeps the range of possibilities for USA's opponent wide open.

Here are the teams from those groups, listed in order of their place in the standings as of Friday afternoon:Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, QatarGroup E: Germany, Côte d'Ivoire, Ecuador, CuraçaoGroup F: Sweden, Japan, Netherlands, TunisiaGroup I: Norway, France, Senegal, IraqGroup J: Argentina, Austria, Jordan AlgeriaWhomever USA would play in that scenario, the game would take place on July 1 in Santa Clara, California, at Levi's Stadium.Scenarios if USA finishes in second place in Group DThe scenarios if USA finishes in second place are much simpler. USA could finish in second place if Türkiye beats Par