The World Cup is a little more than two months away, and the United States is one step closer to learning who will be the final team joining Group D. In addition to the United States, Australia and Paraguay are already part of Group D with one spot remaining.
Turkey, Kosovo, Romania and Slovakia were all fighting to make the World Cup via a playoff for the final spot in Group D. Unfortunately for the USMNT, Turkey is now just one win away from joining the United States in Group D.
FIFA currently has Turkey ranked as the No. 23 rated team in the world. Turkey is the only team of the four squads ranked inside the top 40.
After a 1-0 victory over Romania, Turkey now awaits the winner of the Slovakia-Kosovo match in the World Cup playoff final. The addition of Turkey would make Group D even stronger, creating a more difficult path for the United States to advance.
Team USA and the rest of Group D will learn more about their path as Turkey and Slovakia or Kosovo plays in the final on Tuesday, March 31.
Here’s what you need to know about the latest World Cup news.
The USMNT Takes on Belgium & Portugal in World Cup Friendlies
The good news for the United States is that the team did not have to qualify for the World Cup. As one of the three nations hosting the World Cup, Team USA automatically qualified for the tournament.
This comes with its own set of challenges as the United States has not faced the process of grueling qualification matches. Instead, the USMNT is looking to ramp up the team’s preparation with a series of difficult friendlies.
Over the next week, the United States take on Belgium (March 28) and Portugal (March 31) with both friendlies taking place in Atlanta at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Team USA will also have tune-up matches against Senegal and Germany weeks before the World Cup begins on June 11.
USA Soccer’s Tim Ream Ahead of Belgium Game: ‘It Is the Most Important Camp’
Typically, the term “friendlies” imply that the games do not matter. With the United States hosting the World Cup in a matter of months, a strong argument can be made that these exhibition matches carry much more weight than normal.
United States defender Tim Ream labeled the ongoing training as the “most important camp” ahead of the World Cup.
“Not tightening up is probably the best way to describe it,” Ream explained, per Goal.com. “You don’t want to play tight. You want to have a focus. You want to have an intensity, but you don’t want to feel like you’re gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles.
“You have to play loose. You have to play with confidence and be comfortable. It is the most important camp, and it’s an opportunity for everybody to show what they can do and, hopefully, be part of the World Cup in June.”
Even with the potential addition of Turkey, the United States remains the highest rated team of Group D at No. 15, per FIFA’s rankings. Turkey advancing would mean three top-30 teams would be part of Group D with Australia at No. 27 as well.
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