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Marcelo Balboa sets World Cup quarterfinals as minimum goal for the United States
Former United States international Marcelo Balboa believes the USMNT should set its sights high at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Former United States international Marcelo Balboa believes the USMNT should set its sights high at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
According to Balboa, reaching the quarterfinals should be the minimum expectation for the American team, considering how much soccer has grown in the country over the past several decades.
Expectations have changed for the USMNT
Balboa pointed out that the landscape was very different during his playing days.
He recalled that many members of the U.S. national team came from a far less developed soccer structure, with fewer professional opportunities available compared to today's environment.
As a result, he believes expectations for the national team have risen significantly.
For Balboa, a quarterfinal appearance should be considered the minimum target for a squad filled with players competing at a high level around the world.
MLS helped transform American soccer
One of the biggest factors behind that growth, according to Balboa, has been the development of Major League Soccer.
The former defender highlighted how the league helped professionalize the sport in the United States, creating stronger pathways for player development and raising the overall standard of the game.
He also emphasized the growing number of American players moving to Europe, where they gain valuable experience in some of the world's most competitive leagues.
A chance to showcase the country's progress
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 being hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada, Balboa sees a unique opportunity for the USMNT to demonstrate how far it has come.
The combination of a stronger domestic league, more players abroad and home-field support has created higher expectations than ever before.
For Balboa, simply advancing beyond the group stage is no longer enough. The challenge now is to establish the United States among the world's top eight teams by reaching the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
