Context:

As the United States prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup, former USMNT player Taylor Twellman emphasizes the significance of the team's performance on the sport’s future popularity in the country. With 11 of the 16 host stadiums located in the U.S., the team faces high expectations to at least reach the knockout stage, as failing to do so would be considered a 'massive failure'. The USMNT's past World Cup performances include reaching the Round of 16 in 2010 and 2014 but failing to qualify in 2018, highlighting the pressure to perform well on home soil. Twellman notes an increased interest in soccer among his professional athlete peers, attributing it to the growing awareness and expectations surrounding the sport. The outcome of the U.S. team's efforts in the tournament could significantly influence the prominence of soccer in North America, potentially elevating it to the forefront of popular sports in the region.

Dive Deeper:

• The United States will be one of three host nations for the 2026 World Cup, with 11 of the 16 host stadiums located within the country, where it will host the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final.

• The pressure is on the USMNT to perform well, as their previous World Cup appearances saw them reach the Round of 16 in 2010 and 2014, but they failed to qualify in 2018 and couldn't progress beyond the Copa América group stage last year.

• Taylor Twellman, a former USMNT player, believes that the success of the U.S. team in the upcoming tournament is crucial for the future popularity of soccer in the nation, similar to the boost football received after the 1994 World Cup.

• Twellman highlights the growing interest in soccer among professional athletes in America, noting that its success in the World Cup could propel the sport to be more prominent alongside traditional sports like baseball and hockey.

• A failure to advance to at least the knockout stage would be a 'massive failure', according to Twellman, who stresses the importance of the team's performance in elevating the sport's profile in North America.

• He points out that the anxiety and urgency surrounding the USMNT are aligned with the sport's growth in the country, indicating that a strong tournament performance could significantly impact soccer's standing in the U.S.

• Twellman also suggests that reaching the quarterfinals as a host nation would place soccer at the forefront of public attention, potentially transforming its status among the top sports in the country.