Weston McKennie drives USA's World Cup resurgence

Weston McKennie has emerged as the driving force behind the United States men's national team's impressive run at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The 27-year-old Juventus midfielder has started all four matches for the co-hosts, playing all but five minutes, and has been pivotal in both attack and defense.

From disappointment to resurgence

The USA's journey to this point has been remarkable. In October 2017, the team failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup after a 2-1 loss to Trinidad and Tobago, marking the first time they missed the tournament since 1986. That defeat was the low point for a program that had qualified for seven consecutive World Cups.

Just a month later, a glimmer of hope appeared. Under interim coach Dave Sarachan, a young squad was called up for a friendly in Portugal, including 19-year-old McKennie. He quickly made an impression, rapping an entire Lil' Wayne song at the team's first dinner and scoring the opening goal in a 1-1 draw against Portugal. That moment provided a brief respite from the pain of missing Russia 2018.

Indispensable on the pitch

Fast forward to 2026, and McKennie is the only USA player to have started every match in the tournament. He has been vital in attack, making 13 defensive line-breaking passes—four more than any other player—and helping the team score ten goals, the first time a Concacaf side has reached double digits at a World Cup. Although he has no goals or assists, his presence has been crucial.

“I think he deserves the full credit because the talent that he has and the capacity, the quality, I think it's him,” said head coach Mauricio Pochettino. “He realized in some moments, 'I can be better. I can cope with the demands of the game.' That is why I congratulate him because he needs to keep going in this way because he's a fantastic player and he's an important player for us.”

Defensively, McKennie has been equally important. In the Round of 32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, he won two aerial duels and provided tireless running while the team played a man down for the final half-hour. His ability to disrupt opponents has been a key asset.

“I think he's really important for us,” said defender Sergino Dest. “He's kind of a box-to-box player. He runs a lot. He helps a lot. He goes into the duels with all his efforts so that's really helpful for the team because that's also something we need. We need balance and I feel like we have a lot of different type of players and he's just a really important player for us.”

Leading celebrations and belief

McKennie's impact extends beyond the pitch. After the 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, he led the crowd in singing John Denver's “Country Roads” at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium. “America is built on belief, we expected this of ourselves and it doesn't really matter what anyone on the outside says, we'll always believe in ourselves and believe in each other,” McKennie said.

USA's victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina marked their first knockout round win since 2002. They will face Belgium on July 6 in Seattle, aiming to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in 24 years. If they succeed, McKennie is likely to play a central role in both the result and the celebration.