For about ten years, I’ve been saying that the United States would win the World Cup in 2026. At first, it was simply a bet on home-field advantage. Then it became more of a mathematical equation: a talented young core that would all be entering their prime in 2026 (for most soccer players, that’s around ages 26–28). Then came the investment in the coaching staff. Over the past few weeks, the final piece has fallen into place—the fans.
The table is set for the “Miracle on Grass” to replace the “Miracle on Ice.”
I’ve happily shared this prediction with anyone willing to listen, but now we’ve reached the point where the rubber meets the road. Over the past few weeks, people have asked me whether the USMNT can win the World Cup.
The answer is, of course, yes. Any team that hasn’t been eliminated can win the World Cup.
The more interesting question is whether they will.
I’m no clairvoyant octopus, but I’m sticking to my prediction: yes, they will. Of course, that’s worth about as much as my answer when students ask if we’ll have school tomorrow because snow is in the forecast. It’s just a prediction. The results will speak for themselves.
What I can say with confidence is that, based on what I’ve seen—from the USMNT’s performances, to the reception the American people have given the world, to the excitement coming from people who normally couldn’t care less about soccer—I believe we finally have the will to win it.
That distinction may sound like semantics, but I don’t think it is.
The United States has long been known for its drive to accomplish big things. That spirit has produced incredible achievements, and at times it has also led us down less admirable paths. Either way, that drive has always been part of our national character. In recent years, though, it has felt dormant. We’ve become comfortable—perhaps even victims of our own success.
Much like Manchester City (still hate them), who spent so long at the top that they seem to have lost some of their hunger, we’ve lacked that same edge.
Hosting the World Cup has changed something. The incredible mix of fans and cultures arriving on our shores has created a tipping point. Soccer in the United States no longer feels like a sport waiting for its moment. It feels like a nation expecting one.
That’s why I believe we’ve moved beyond simply being a team that can win the World Cup. We’ve become a country that believes it must.
I’m sticking with my prediction: this is our year.
And if it isn’t, I still think something has changed permanently. We now have the will to win. Whether it’s this tournament or the next, I believe that mindset is here to stay.
GO USA!
Pete
Huryk Unlimited 