The USMNT are behind in the power rankings for what they've shown in the past months under Mauricio Pochettino, including the 2025 Gold Cup disappointment. The home World Cup will help them, but they'll need more performances like the 5-1 win over Uruguay.

Germany have moved into ninth place ahead in the latest FIFA men's rankings ahead of the 2026 World Cup draw, likely sealing a place in Pot 1 for the draw.

The USA have leapfrogged Mexico to restore their status as CONCACAF's top side, at least on the FIFA Men's World Rankings, which have also confirmed advantageous seeding for the Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq, who will get a bye to the finals of the World Cup's inter-confederation playoffs.

2022 World Cup hosts Qatar are the most challenging Pot 4 side, although the USMNT would likely conquer the reigning Asian champions with little fuss. They won their only meeting with FIFA’s 52nd-ranked nation during the CONCACAF Gold Cup back in 2021.

From the moment Mauricio Pochettino took over the U.S. men’s soccer team last year, each moment has had two meanings. Along with trying to win games, every pass, shot, tackle, save, or failure has been about trying to make the World Cup team.

But an inexperienced USMNT side ran roughshod over the Uruguayans, as defender Alex Freeman scored a brace and was joined on the scoresheet by Sebastian Berhalter, Diego Luna and Tanner Tessmann. The goals from Freeman, Berhalter and Tessmann were their first on the international level.

USA ’94 helped birth Major League Soccer (MLS), and with the sport’s popularity surging in the build-up to the 2026 World Cup, there’s scope for the long-term effects on U.S. soccer to be even more significant in the tournament’s aftermath.

Pochettino's men are on a roll before the World Cup. But what was Ronaldo doing at a gala dinner with President Trump?

Pro Soccer Wire's Seth Vertelney breaks down the current state of the USMNT after a solid finish to an up and down 2025.