Ever since their inaugural bout in 1930, where they reached the semifinals, the United States men's national soccer team (USMNT) have recorded FIFA World Cup appearances.
In fact, the semi-final finish in 1930 put them on the podium as it was recognized as a third-placed finish. This tournament also saw American striker Bert Patenaude score the first hat-trick in World Cup history, officially recognized by FIFA in 2006.
Following their notable 1–0 upset against England in the 1950 World Cup group play, the U.S. team did not qualify for the tournament again until 1990. They then participated consistently from 1990, with the only exception being the 2018 World Cup.
Has the USA ever won the FIFA World Cup?
No, the USA has never won the FIFA Men's World Cup. Comparatively, the U.S. women's national team (USWNT) have enjoyed far more success, winning the Women's World Cup four times: 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019.
What is the USA's best finish at the FIFA World Cup?
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The USA's best finish at the FIFA Men's World Cup was third place in 1930 — the inaugural World Cup held in Uruguay. Although the tournament in 1930 did not have an official third-place match, FIFA later awarded third place to the USA based on goal difference and overall performance compared to the other losing semifinalist (Yugoslavia). The USA reached the semifinals before losing 6-1 to Argentina.
Before the World Cup expanded to 16 teams in 1934, until subsequently to the new 48-team format in 2026, the 1930 event only featured 13 teams with a four-team knockout bracket sans a round of 16 or the quarterfinals.
Since then, their most notable recent performance was reaching the quarterfinals in 2002. Narrowly losing to Germany 1-0, it may be considered the USA's best modern-era performance.
Will the USA participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Yes, the USA will be at the 2026 Men’s FIFA World Cup — it has already secured its place as one of the host nations alongside Canada and Mexico. FIFA’s Council confirmed on February 14, 2023, that all three host nations will receive automatic berths into the finals. These spots are taken from CONCACAF’s total allocation, without having to go through the regional qualifiers.
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The USA's overall FIFA World Cup record
| World Cup | Stage reached |
|---|---|
| 1930 | Semi-final (Third place) |
| 1934 | Round of 16 |
| 1938 | Withdrew |
| 1950 | Group stage |
| 1954 | Did not qualify |
| 1958 | Did not qualify |
| 1962 | Did not qualify |
| 1966 | Did not qualify |
| 1970 | Did not qualify |
| 1974 | Did not qualify |
| 1978 | Did not qualify |
| 1982 | Did not qualify |
| 1986 | Did not qualify |
| 1990 | Group stage |
| 1994 | Round of 16 |
| 1998 | Group stage |
| 2002 | Quarter-finals |
| 2006 | Group stage |
| 2010 | Round of 16 |
| 2014 | Round of 16 |
| 2018 | Did not qualify |
| 2022 | Round of 16 |
| 2026 | Qualified as co-hosts |