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The United States men’s national team is ready to perform in front of its home crowd as co-host of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. But it’s been a unique journey for the team since its first appearance at the first World Cup in 1930. Here’s a brief history of the evolution of the United States men’s national team.
When did the United States play its first men’s game?
Although a team representing the United States faced a Canadian team in 1885 in Kearney, New Jersey, it would be decades before the U.S. men’s national team was officially recognized. This included the 1904 Olympics in St. Louis, where two clubs – Christian Brothers College and St. Rose Parish – would win silver and bronze medals.
The United States Soccer Federation was founded in April 1913. The United States men’s team played its first official international match in Stockholm against Sweden in August 1916, winning 3-2. This match was part of a six-match tour of Sweden and Norway.
When did the United States compete in its Men’s World Cup?
In 1930, the United States, along with 12 other international soccer teams, played in the first World Cup in Uruguay. The United States’ first World Cup experience exceeded all expectations as the Stars and Stripes finished third.
After a half-hearted qualifying process (only Mexico and the United States bothered to participate from North America), the Americans traveled to Uruguay with a motley squad consisting of semi-professionals, British immigrants and a Belgian-born goalkeeper.
The United States upset Belgium 3-0 in its opening match, then beat Paraguay 3-0 to win the group. However, in the semifinals, the United States came up against Argentina, losing 6-1. Argentina would then lose to the host nation, 3-2, in the first ever final.
No third-place match was played, but FIFA retroactively awarded the bronze medal to the United States based on overall record.
Why was the 1950 World Cup important to the United States men’s national team?
(Photo by EMPICS Sport/EMPICS via Getty Images)
The 1950 World Cup was one of the greatest upsets in history. Thanks to a goal from Joe Gaetjens in the 37th minute, the United States beat a heavily favored English team 1-0 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The game even earned the nickname “The Miracle Match” and was the subject of books and even a 2005 film called “The Game of Their Lives.”
Much like the 1930 U.S. World Cup team, the team was made up of part-time players who held jobs such as gravedigger and postman. Even Gaetjens, who was not yet a U.S. citizen when he was selected for the team, was a diver and lived in New York. On the other hand, England featured professional players in their first World Cup appearance.
Despite this victory, the United States failed to advance past the first round, but they made a statement that the nation would remember as it subsequently endured a 40-year World Cup drought.
What happened to the United States men’s national team from 1950 to 1990?
Italian defender Paolo Maldini is tackled by American midfielder Paul Caliguri during the 1990 World Cup (BOB PEARSON/AFP via Getty Images)
For 40 years, American football was marginalized while other professional leagues like MLB, NBA, NHL and NFL thrived. The United States has not qualified for a World Cup for nearly four decades and has missed a number of Gold Cups, a tournament involving teams from the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Football (CONCACAF).
Without a strong domestic league, the U.S. national team has struggled to build a talented roster. And although college football and youth football were mainstays across the country, few players were able to turn professional overseas. The creation of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1968 would ultimately attract World Cup legends like Franz Beckenbauer, Pelé and Johan Cruyff to play in the United States, but did little to help American players succeed. The NASL folded in 1984.
Controversially, FIFA granted the United States the right to host the World Cup in 1988. This renewed American soccer’s efforts to reach the World Cup in 1990 in preparation for the 1994 edition. The team did so and ended a 40-year drought by qualifying for the 1990 tournament hosted by Italy. With a young and inexperienced team, the United States lost its group stage matches to Czechoslovakia (5-1), Italy (1-0), and Austria (2-1).
What changed in the 1994 World Cup?
The 1994 World Cup was hosted by the United States. (Photo by George Tiedemann/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
The tides began to turn in the 1990s, with the 1994 World Cup hosted by the United States. While many expected empty stadiums in a country that prioritizes other sports, that is far from the reality. More than 3.5 million fans flocked to matches across the country – still a World Cup record.
Led by several veterans of the 1990 team and newcomers like Alexi Lalas and Cobi Jones, the United States also delivered on the field, advancing past the group stages for the first time in 64 years. Ultimately, they lost 1-0 to eventual champions Brazil in the round of 16. This result proved that the United States could compete with the giants of the football world.
The 1994 World Cup led to the birth of Major League Soccer two years later, which increased the talent pool available domestically and provided academies for the country’s youth.
How has the United States men’s national team performed since the 1994 World Cup?
Landon Donovan broke through at the 2002 World Cup. (Photo by Henri Szwarc/Bongarts/Getty Images)
After 1994, there were high hopes that the team could go even further at the 1998 World Cup held in France. However, this team failed and failed to make it out of the group stage. In fact, this team lost all three of its group stage matches (Germany, Iran, Yugoslavia) and only scored one goal in total in the match against Iran.
At the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, the United States bounced back and had its best result since 1930. The United States beat Portugal 3-2 and drew South Korea to advance from their group. In the round of 16, the United States beat powerful rival Mexico 2-0 thanks to goals from Brian McBride and Landon Donovan.
This then led to a clash with powerhouse Germany in the quarter-finals. With the United States trailing 1-0 in the 50th minute, American defender (and future coach) Gregg Berhalter fired a shot that goalkeeper Oliver Kahn stopped before bouncing off the arm of German midfielder Torsten Frings. Much to the dismay of the United States, no handball was called. Germany advanced and thus eliminated the United States from the competition.
Hopes were even higher for the 2006 World Cup squad that arrived in Germany. But a tough group including the Czech Republic, Italy and Ghana meant the United States would fail to reach the round of 16.
The United States made it out of the group stage at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, thanks in large part to one of the most important moments in team history. That’s when Landon Donovan scored a last-minute goal in the group stage final against Algeria, securing an appearance in the round of 16.
At the 2014 World Cup, the United States once again found itself in a tough group – Ghana, Portugal and Germany – but reached the round of 16. A heavy 2–1 defeat to Belgium in extra time would seal the team’s fate, despite a heroic performance from goalkeeper Tim Howard, during which he set a World Cup record for the most saves in a match.
In one of the lowest moments in its history, the United States failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the first time the United States had failed to reach the big stage since 1986. But with a new generation of players led by Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie, the team returned to the big stage at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, once again reaching the round of 16 before losing to the Netherlands.
What to expect from the United States men’s national team at the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
With 2026 now upon us, the United States is back to host the biggest football tournament on home soil (alongside co-hosts Mexico and Canada). Pulisic and McKennie are back in the squad and are two of 13 holdovers from the 2022 World Cup roster.
The United States will face three opponents in the group stage in an attempt to advance to the round of 16.
Who holds some of the United States men’s national team records?
Goals: Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan each scored 57 goals.
Appearances: Cobi Jones appeared in 164 matches from 1992 to 2004.
Coach with the most wins: Bruce Arena had 81 victories from 1998 to 2006 and 2017.
FIFA World Cup 2026: how to watch
THE 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19, 2026. Spread across three countries, the tournament will culminate with the final on July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The 104 matches of the tournament will be broadcast live on FOX (70) and FS1 (34) with every match broadcast live and on demand in both countries. FOX One and the FOX Sports application. A record 40 games, more than a third of the tournament, will be broadcast in prime time on FOX (21) and FS1 (19).
The June 11 opening match between Mexico and South Africa (3 p.m. ET) will be broadcast free on Tubias well as the United States’ opening match against Paraguay on June 12 (9 p.m. ET).
