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Who will USA play next? Here is USMNT's 2026 World Cup bracket opponent for quarterfinals originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Round of 16, while an achievement for manager Mauricio Pochettino and the United States, is familiar territory for the Americans. The quarterfinals are not.
It's been 24 years since the U.S. last reached the quarterfinals of the World Cup, when a loss to Germany ended a run that remains the gold standard for American soccer.
The United States is looking to rewrite history in 2026, and it was clear even in the group stage that this USA squad had the chance to do something special.
Who would the United States play next in the World Cup? Here's what you need to know.
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USMNT World Cup bracket
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Who will USA play next in World Cup?
The United States would face Spain or Portugal in the quarterfinals on Friday, July 10, with a win over Belgium.
Spain and Portugal are facing off Monday afternoon for the right to go to the quarterfinals, with Spain entering as the favorite to advance. Spain cruised past Austria to reach the Round of 16, while Portugal won a thriller over Croatia in extra time to keep its hopes alive.
If the United States advances, their quarterfinal match would be played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California.
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How does the World Cup bracket work?
At this stage of the World Cup, there are no points or standings. Because this is the knockout stage, each game is a win-or-go-home scenario until a champion is crowned.
A win over Belgium would send the United States to the quarterfinals, where only eight teams will remain and only three more wins are required to win the World Cup.
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USA World Cup schedule 2026 and route to final
Here's a full look at the USA's path so far and their potential path forward.
Group Stage
| Date | Match No. | Matchup |
| June 12 | Group Stage, Match 1 | USA 4, Paraguay 1 |
| June 19 | Group Stage, Match 2 | USA 2, Australia 0 |
| June 25 | Group Stage, Match 3 | Turkey 3, USA 2 |
Round of 32
| Date | Match No. | Matchup |
| July 1 | 82 | USA 2, Bosnia and Herzegovina 0 |
Round of 16
| Date | Match No. | Matchup |
| July 6 | 94 | USA vs. Belgium |
Quarterfinals
| Date | Match No. | Matchup |
| July 10 | 98 | USA/Belgium vs. Spain/Portugal |
Semifinals
| Date | Match No. | Matchup |
| July 14 | 101 | Match No. 97 winner vs. Match No. 98 winner |
Third-place playoff
| Date | Match No. | Matchup |
| July 18 | 103 | Match No. 101 loser vs. Match No. 102 loser |
Finals
| Date | Match No. | Matchup |
| July 19 | 104 | Match No. 101 winner vs. Match No. 102 winner |
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