The USMNT will face the Netherlands in the last 16 of the World Cup, but head coach Gregg Berhalter has made it clear that they're not just there to make up the numbers.
USA qualified for the knockout stages after Christian Pulisic 's first-half strike was enough to secure a 1-0 win over Iran on Tuesday. They finished second in Group B behind England, who also won on Tuesday as they beat Wales 3-0.
It's a big achievement for the USMNT, especially as they failed to even qualify for the last World Cup in 2018. But they've been confident throughout the tournament so far, and they'll be hopeful they can get past the Netherlands in the first knockout round too.
The USMNT finished Group B on five points as they remained unbeaten throughout their three games. They may not have blown their opposition away so far, but they have only conceded one goal in the competition, from the penalty spot.
Their impressive defensive record will need to continue if they are to stand a chance against the Netherlands, especially with Cody Gakpo impressing with three goals in the group stages. The Netherlands topped Group A with seven points, but Berhalter has fired a warning to their opponents and the rest of the competition by claiming they deserve to be where they are.
"It’s a great opportunity, but it’s not something that we’re going into thinking it’s an honour," Berhalter said of reaching the round of 16. "We deserve to be in the position we’re in, and we want to keep going with it."
The last 16 was as far as USA made it in both the 2010 and 2014 editions of the World Cup, so if Berhalter can guide them further it'll prove just how well he's done since taking over. Berhalter was appointed in 2018, after they failed to qualify for the World Cup in Russia.
They only just qualified for 2022, finishing third in their qualifying group behind Canada and Mexico. But they made it nonetheless, and could even go the furthest out of all North American sides.
Canada are already out despite still having a group game left to play, and Mexico's fate is yet to be decided in a tough group with Poland, Argentina and Saudi Arabia. The Netherlands will be no easy test for USA, but their plan heading into the World Cup is going perfectly.
Pulisic was keen to change how the world 'see American soccer', and they're certainly impressing neutral fans. "Maybe it hasn’t been the top sport back in the States and we want to change the way that the world sees American soccer – it’s one of our goals," Pulisic said.
"We haven’t been at the level of some of these world powerhouses in recent decades, but we’ve had good teams with a lot of heart. We can take it to the next step – a successful World Cup would change a lot."
