USMNT clinches top spot in World Cup Group D: Everything you need to know about what happens next

The USMNT clinched first place in 2026 World Cup Group D with a game to spare after beating Australia 2-0 in Seattle and then watching Turkey fall 1-0 to Paraguay, courtesy of a Matias Galarza strike, in Santa Clara on Friday. Coach Mauricio Pochettino's side has now won two consecutive group stage matches and secured top spot thanks to FIFA's new tiebreaker rules. Their final group game against Turkey next Thursday is now meaningless in terms of qualification, and the team's knockout stage path is already set.