World Cup 2026: USA begin in style, but can they finally join the elite?

If there was any doubt that the United States was ready to handle the pressure of hosting the 2026 World Cup, they were eliminated in 45 glorious minutes against Paraguay on Saturday.

After a glitzy build-out that featured Katy Perry performing, Hollywood stars like Tom Cruise watching in the stands and thousands of fans decked out in stars and stripes, they would be forgiven for wilting under the pressure.

Instead, they scored three goals in a storming first half, then sealed a 4-1 lead with a superb fourth in stoppage time from Gio Reyna to get off to an excellent start in Group D.

But even before that display, there were those who recognized the potential of the US team, which has improved significantly over the past 20 months under former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Former USA goalkeeper Tony Meola is one of the experts who argue that they are now on their way to standing shoulder to shoulder with football’s elite.

“We’re much more established now,” said Meola, who was on the U.S. squad at the 1990, 1994 and 2002 World Cups.

“We have players playing all over the world, we have an incredible league and we have facilities that are now used by the world. These were a pipe dream a few years ago, now we are a football country.”

This was the first time since 1930 that the United States won a World Cup match by three goals, a result that would make other teams in the tournament take notice.

“USA was incredible,” England’s great star Ellen White said on BBC Match of the Day.

“You talk about pressure, but they understood it, they enjoyed it. They probably shocked the world with that performance.”