Viva's Power Rankings — No.8: USA, the host nation, the believers, and the tournament that could change American football forever

Every tournament has a host nation story. The crowd, the occasion, the weight of expectation from a population that has adopted football slowly and then all at once. In 2026 that story belongs to the United States — a country of 330 million people hosting the World Cup for the first time since 1994, with a squad that is genuinely the best they have ever assembled and a fanbase that will fill every stadium to capacity with a noise that travelling supporters will not expect.

The USA are not favourites. They are not expected to win this tournament. But they are expected to be competitive, to advance from their group, and to make the knockout stages uncomfortable for whoever faces them in front of a home crowd that will not accept anything less than maximum effort.

Why they are here at number eight

Christian Pulisic is their best player and one of the more complete attacking midfielders at this tournament — creative, direct, capable of the individual moment that changes a match. Weston McKennie provides the engine in midfield. Tyler Adams gives them the defensive structure to protect and transition quickly. Around those three, Mauricio Pochettino has assembled a squad with genuine Premier League and European quality at multiple positions.

They are at eight rather than higher because the ceiling against the tournament's best sides is unclear. Can they beat France or Brazil in a knockout match? Not reliably. Can they beat Morocco or Serbia in the round of 32 with 80,000 Americans behind them? Absolutely. The home advantage is real and significant.

Manager: Mauricio Pochettino | Key player: Christian Pulisic
Group: Group E with England, Iran, Slovakia

Viva's Verdict

Next in the Power Rankings

No.7 tomorrow — Back-to-back Champions League winners in the squad. A generational midfielder at 21. The Ronaldo question nobody wants to answer. Portugal tomorrow. Back to VivaSportsHQ →