The United States return to the World Cup for the 12th time, and for the second time as hosts after 1994. Their tournament story is bookended by its earliest chapter: a run to the semifinals at the inaugural 1930 World Cup remains their best finish, an often forgotten third place, and along the way they have produced the odd shock, most famously the 1950 upset of England. Modern highlights are rarer. A quarterfinal in 2002 stands out, and in most of their recent appearances the United States has gone out in the round of 16.

There was no qualifying campaign this time. As one of three joint hosts alongside Mexico and Canada, the United States earned automatic entry, the longstanding guarantee FIFA gives host nations, applied for the first time to three countries at once in this expanded edition of 48 teams. The squad was placed directly into Group D. For a home World Cup of this scale, the question is not whether they made it, but how far a young side can go in front of their own crowd.