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By Rowan Fisher-Shotton
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The United States are in a position few expected this early on in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. After opening the tournament with a dominant 4-1 win over Paraguay, Mauricio Pochettino's squad followed it up with an impressive 2-0 victory over Australia, moving to six points from two matches and officially clinching both a spot in the Round of 32 and first place in Group D before their final group stage match.
But on Monday, USMNT legend Landon Donovan appeared on "The Rich Eisen Show" and issued a blunt reality check to the team even as they ride one of the hottest World Cup runs in recent memory.
"Well, they did what they were supposed to do. These are two teams that they should beat," Donovan said. "Now, did I expect them to beat them this comfortably and this emphatically? No. But I expected them to win both games. They've done everything they needed to."
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"Now the question is, we have a game on Thursday against Turkey. That game is now meaningless other than, you know, keeping form and keeping rhythm because Turkey is already eliminated and we're already through in first place. So, it's keeping the rhythm and keeping the excitement and the intensity going, while being careful. Of course, you don't want anyone injured or getting suspended for the next game."
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Widely regarded as the greatest player in USMNT history, Donovan scored 57 international goals, four CONCACAF Gold Cups, appeared in three World Cups, and delivered some of the most iconic moments in U.S. men's national team history.
That's why when he speaks, American soccer fans listen.
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The U.S. is co-hosting the tournament and has not reached a World Cup quarterfinal since 2002, when Donovan won Best Young Player of the tournament. A deep run would provide a massive boost for soccer across the United States.
The squad's next chance to add even more momentum to their run comes on Thursday against Turkey at SoFi Stadium. Pochettino can then begin preparing for the Round of 32, where the United States is expected to face one of the tournament's advancing third-place teams under FIFA's new 48-team format.
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