The USMNT’s World Cup Challenge: Can They Finally Beat a European Team?

What’s Going On Here?

Imagine you’re playing your favorite video game. You’ve beaten monsters from Asia, Africa, and South America — you feel unstoppable! But then you walk into a new level, and there’s one type of boss you just can’t beat. No matter how many times you try, you lose. That’s exactly what’s happening with the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team (USMNT) when they play teams from Europe.

First, Let’s Look at the Good News

The U.S. team has been on an absolute tear lately. Let’s break it down:

• They dominated Paraguay, who looked completely lost
• They outplayed Australia, a strong team from the other side of the world
• They crushed Senegal, a top African squad
• They absolutely blew past Uruguay (a two-time World Cup winner!) in late 2025
• Since a big win over Japan in September 2025, they’ve looked like one of the best teams on the planet
• They’ve beaten strong teams from four different continents

In short: This U.S. team looks like one of the best American teams ever assembled. Fans are calling them a "golden generation" — which means this might be the most talented group of players the country has ever produced.

So what’s the problem?

The Problem: They Can’t Beat European Teams

Here’s where things get tricky. The U.S. has a massive, glaring weakness, and it’s about to become a huge deal as the World Cup’s knockout rounds begin:

The U.S. has lost 10 straight games against European teams. That’s not a typo — ten in a row.

And it gets worse. Over the past decade, U.S. teams have won just one game out of 18 tries against full-strength European opponents. That single win? A friendly against Northern Ireland in 2021.

Now, to win the entire World Cup, the U.S. would likely need to beat five European teams in a row.

Think of it this way: Imagine a basketball team that’s amazing against every conference except one. If the rest of the tournament is only teams from that conference, you’ve got a problem — no matter how good you are overall.

The Big Test: Wednesday’s Game Against Bosnia and Herzegovina

On Wednesday, the USMNT faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California (8 p.m. ET, Fox).

Why is this game such a big deal? Because:

1. The U.S. hasn’t beaten a European team at a World Cup since 2002 — over 20 years ago
2. They’ve only beaten a European team in a World Cup ONCE since 1950 — and that game wasn’t even a knockout match
3. To win the World Cup, they’ll need to do this not once, but multiple times

Is Bosnia a Tough Opponent?

Honestly? Bosnia isn’t one of Europe’s giant teams like France, Germany, or England. They’re ranked much lower (58th in the world by Elo ratings, compared to the teams that usually beat the U.S., who rank in the top 25). The U.S. actually beat Bosnia the last time they played, back in December 2021, when a young substitute named Cole Bassett scored the only goal in the 89th minute.

But history shows that even "lesser" European teams can knock the U.S. out. The losing streak includes losses to teams like Switzerland and Turkey — not exactly household names, but good enough to beat the Americans.

Wait… How Is This Possible? Aren’t the Americans Good?

Great question! Here’s the thing — the U.S. IS really good. They:

• Held England to a 0-0 draw at the 2022 World Cup
• Shocked Spain (who were on a 35-match unbeaten streak and would go on to win the next World Cup) in 2009
• Were minutes away from beating Portugal at the 2014 World Cup
• Have players who compete at the highest levels of European club soccer every single week

So why the awful record against Europe? European soccer is just on another level overall.

Here’s a simple way to understand it: Imagine basketball. Sure, a few players from other countries are superstars. But if you took the entire continent of Europe and made one giant basketball league, they’d have way more depth, way more talent, and way more elite players than any single country elsewhere. That’s what soccer looks like in Europe.

The numbers prove it:

• 7 out of the world’s top 10 soccer teams are European
• 13 out of the top 20 are European
• Of the last 30 World Cup finals, 21 featured a European team
• Of the last 60 semifinalists, 44 were European

So the U.S. isn’t just fighting individual teams — they’re fighting an entire continent that treats soccer like a religion.

The Road Through the Tournament Is Brutal

If the U.S. beats Bosnia on Wednesday, the path only gets harder. Look at what’s waiting:

Every. Single. One. Is. European.

The last time the U.S. beat a European team ranked in the top 10 was way back in 2015, when they pulled back-to-back friendly upsets against the Netherlands and Germany. That was over a decade ago.

So Why Exactly Do They Keep Losing?

This is where it gets interesting. It’s not just one thing — it’s a combination of several factors:

1. Not Always a Full-Strength Team

Some of the losses came during "January camps" — friendly matches played in the middle of the year when European clubs don’t have to let their players leave. So the U.S. was missing its best stars. In fact, the losses to Serbia (2023) and Slovenia (2024) featured a combined total of just two players who made the 2026 World Cup roster (backup players Miles Robinson and Alejandro Zendejas).

2. European Teams Are Just… More Clinical

Clinical is a soccer word that means "efficient and precise when it matters." When a European team gets a chance to score, they usually score. The U.S. doesn’t have that same ruthless finishing ability.

After losing to the Netherlands in the 2022 World Cup, then-coach Gregg Berhalter put it bluntly:

"The difference between the two teams is that they have a certain quality in their finishing that we don’t have."

After a 2-0 loss to Portugal in March 2026, current coach Mauricio Pochettino said:

"In this type of game, when you give [European players] a centimeter, it’s possible that they can score."
— referring to stars like Bruno Fernandes, João Félix, and others who punish the tiniest mistakes.

3. European Soccer Is More "Controlled"

Many people imagine European soccer as super chaotic and intense. But U.S. players who’ve faced them say the opposite:

"When you play against these teams, it’s a lot less chaotic than you would think. It’s a lot more controlled."
— U.S. midfielder Sebastian Berhalter

One specific skill gap: first touch. When the U.S. tries to pressure European players, those players can control the ball perfectly, even under intense pressure. As Berhalter explained:

"Any ball you give them, their first touch is dead. It doesn’t matter if they have pressure on them, it’s right at their foot."

Translation: The U.S. can’t rely on pressuring European teams into making mistakes, because European players just don’t lose the ball that easily.

4. Fewer Chances to Play European Teams

Back in the 2014 World Cup cycle, the U.S. played 16 games against European opponents in official FIFA windows. In the current 2026 cycle, they only played 6. That’s because UEFA (European soccer’s governing body) launched a new competition called the Nations League in 2018, which mostly replaced traditional friendlies.

Fewer games against Europe = fewer opportunities to learn how to beat them.

U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams explained it:

"When you get an opportunity to play maybe twice a year against European competition, it’s difficult. And the flow of the games, understanding that kind of thing, the rhythm, is difficult.

Think of it like a test: If you only study the material twice a year, you’re going to struggle — even if you’re really smart. If you study it regularly, you’ll get much better at it.

5. Not Playing Like an Underdog

Past U.S. teams often played with an "underdog mentality" — sitting back, defending hard, and catching opponents on counter-attacks. Those teams pulled off surprising upsets.

This newer, more talented U.S. team has tried to play more like an equal — pressing high and taking the game to opponents. Some believe this more ambitious approach has actually hurt them against Europe’s best.

6. Talent Gap Is Real

At the end of the day, the simplest answer is often the correct one: the best European players are just better than the best American players — especially in attack. The U.S. has plenty of quality, but Europe has more.

Does the Team Care About This Streak?

Interestingly, the losing streak doesn’t seem to be weighing on the players psychologically.

When captain Tim Ream was told about the 10-game losing streak, he shrugged it off:

"It is what it is. Not really anything we can control."

Several other players were genuinely surprised when they learned the statistic. They clearly aren’t walking around thinking about it.

But U.S. wingback Sergiño Dest made it clear what needs to happen:

"If you want to win this World Cup, you gotta be able to beat everyone."

The Bottom Line

The 2026 USMNT is probably the best American team ever. They’ve been destroying teams from every continent. But to win the World Cup — to actually make history — they need to do something they haven’t done in over two decades:

Beat a European team on the soccer world’s biggest stage.

And not just once. They’ll probably have to do it multiple times in a row against some of the most dominant soccer nations on Earth.

Wednesday’s game against Bosnia and Herzegovina is the first step. Can the U.S. finally break the curse?

The Round of 32 matchup is Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on Fox at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

FAQ

Q: Has the USMNT ever beaten a European team at the World Cup?
A: Yes, but not since 2002. The only other time they beat a European team in a World Cup match was way back in 1950. They have never beaten a European team in a World Cup knockout game.

Q: Why has the U.S. played fewer games against European teams recently?
A: UEFA (European soccer’s organization) launched a new tournament called the Nations League in 2018. It took up the schedule slots that were previously used for international friendlies, so there are fewer chances for the U.S. to schedule games against European opponents.

Q: Does Bosnia usually beat the U.S.?
A: Not at all. The U.S. actually beat Bosnia the last time they played, in a December 2021 friendly. A young substitute named Cole Bassett scored the winning goal in the 89th minute. However, Bosnia is still a European team, and any European opponent presents a challenge given the current streak.

Q: If the U.S. beats Bosnia, who would they play next?
A: Five days later, they’d likely face Belgium in the Round of 16. After that, potential quarterfinal opponents include Spain, Portugal, Austria, or Croatia. The semifinal path could include France, Germany, or the Netherlands. The road to the final is essentially an "all-European gauntlet."

Q: Are some of the 10 losses "fake" because the U.S. didn’t have its best players?
A: Kind of. The losses to Serbia (January 2023) and Slovenia (January 2024) came during camps when clubs didn’t have to release players, so both teams were missing most of their stars — yours and theirs. However, the losses to Germany (twice), the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, and Turkey featured squads that were close to full-strength, so the streak isn’t entirely a fluke.