For the first time since 1930, the United States has won its first two matches at a single World Cup.
First it was Paraguay last week, and then Australia by a 2-0 score on Friday in Seattle. The USMNT has actually secured advancement to the knockout stages already.
It’s starting to raise at least the rumblings of a question: Can the U.S. actually win the World Cup?
Of course, it’s not something that people are going to get too loud about yet. They’ve never come all that close.
This isn’t supposed to be a competition won by the USA. The world of international football is for the countries that love this sport more than any other, right?
Well, this is the United States team that has at least a little bit of a chance to take their seat at the table.
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Can USA win the World Cup?
That was the exact question posed to Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the legendary Swedish striker, after the United States shut out Australia on Friday.
Ibrahimovic, working for Fox during this World Cup, had a one-word answer:
“Yes.”
Rebecca Lowe: “Zlatan… Can the U.S. win this World Cup? Yes or no?”
Zlatan: “Yes.” pic.twitter.com/6S4tcHRHll
— Underdog (@Underdog) June 19, 2026
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Zlatan is a confident individual, but that usually pertains to himself.
In this case, he’s simply seen something he likes about what the United States has done so far. He also surely knows that home-field advantage is real for the co-hosts.
Is the United States the favorite? No. But can they do this? Zlatan thinks yes.