The USMNT topped their group at the 2026 World Cup, and football fever is sweeping the nation.Mauricio Pochettino’s team finished Group D with a defeat to Turkey but their place in the knockout stage for the 2026 tournament had already been assured, so no risks were taken.The USMNT have topped their World Cup group with an eye on the knockoutsGettyFolarin Balogun starred in the opening game against Paraguay in Los Angeles, and a 2-0 win followed against Australia in Seattle.A 3-2 defeat to Turkey at SoFi Stadium gave Pochettino the chance to keep his players on yellow cards out of the firing line as a second booking of the group stage would have brought a ban.Weston McKennie was the only player to start all three games, with the likes of Chris Richards, Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman and Antonee Robinson all given the evening off.Saturday night saw the conclusion of the group stage, and it’s now win or go home football as the US eye a run deep at the tournament.They have only reached the quarterfinals once since their third place finish in 1930 – but the draw for this year clearWho does USMNT play next at the World Cup?As Group D winners, the USMNT will play their Round of 32 game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Wednesday, July 1 at 5pm local time (1am on Thursday morning for UK).They will face the third-place finisher from one of the following groups – B, E, F, I, or J – and that has now been confirmed to be Bosnia-Herzegovina.Tougher tests await with the bracket now clear after the completion of the group stage.Pochettino and his squad have the luxury of remaining on the West Coast until the last four and the final – if they make it.Those games would take place in Dallas and in New York.The USMNT will hope for a favorable path through the Round of 32GettyWho could USMNT play in the Round of 16 at the World Cup?Winning in the Round of 32, which is game 81 of the tournament, would see Pochettino’s stars move on to the Last 16.The bracket puts them in Game 94, to be played at Lumen Field in Seattle on Monday, July 6, at 8pm.Having already played once in the Pacific North West they will hope for a repeat of the 2-0 win over Australia and they will face either Belgium or Senegal.At one stage it looked like being Mohamed Salah’s Egypt but Belgium pipped them to Group G winners spot and the European nation will now face African powerhouse Senegal whose’s 5-0 win over Iraq helped them clinch one of the best third-placed finisher spots.And if they win that, a date with Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal or Lamine Yamal and Spain back at SoFi Stadium for a third time in the tournament could await in the quarterfinals.Portugal face Croatia in Toronto and Spain face Austria in Los Angeles with the winners of those two matches facing off in Dallas, while France, Germany or Netherlands are the most likely semi-final opponents.Egypt and Salah are potential opponents in the Last 16GettyComing to AmericaHow the 1994 World Cup changed soccer in USA – from tourists in Italy to better than England and MLSRanking the World Cup venues – from New York to Los Angeles, a string of spectacular venues will play host to the 2026 World CupThe $9bn pitch built for Ronaldo’s last World Cup – ‘Forever’ grass, artificial sunlight and closed roofMauricio Pochettino urges Americans to ‘keep believing’As the US has sailed through their first two group games, a nation is united behind Pochettino’s team and their quest for World Cup glory.Following the 2-0 win against Australia, the USMNT coach urged fans to help keep the dream alive.“I think we need to keep believing and approach every single day like we did from day one,” Pochettino said.“Believing that we can win. Knowing that we need to work really hard, building our journey every day to the next game.“It’s not changed much, my view or my dreams or what I am seeing. It’s much better when you show good performances and win the games. I think it makes everything easier.Pochettino has urged US players and fans to keep believingGetty“But at the same time it’s to keep believing. Before we were talking after one game and three points. Now it’s two games, six points.“Now we need to go for the next one and be sure that we are going to arrive in a good condition like we arrive in the last two games.“We need to work hard, be responsible, be disciplined, keep being very tough with ourselves to push to be better and better every day, not to be relaxed.“The IQ that I have in my players in the squad is so high above the average. That is why I know, with our help, because we as a coaching staff are very demanding, we are going to keep the same way.”Stay up to date on all things USMNT across our talkSPORT platforms – subscribe to our YouTube channel for the latest news, opinion, exclusive interviews and our daily unfiltered, unscripted show ‘The S* Word, from 8am ET.