Longtime United States national team goalkeeper Tim Howard isn't buying into the USA's chances at the World Cup, even after their quality start to the tournament.
"The U.S. cannot, unequivocally, win the World Cup," Howard said Saturday on his podcast "Unfiltered Soccer." "The U.S. will have to play the greatest game they've ever played three times in a row. They're going to have to beat three world soccer powerhouses in a row. Sorry, four games in a row. Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, finals. It is literally impossible for the U.S. to win the World Cup.
"That's gonna come across crazy. People are gonna say whatever, that's just the reality. But we're super excited for this ride we're on."
The United States clinched top spot in Group D on Friday with a 2-0 win against Australia. The U.S. dismantled Paraguay 4-1 in its opener.
Howard is the most-capped goalkeeper in United States men's national team history with 121 appearances from 2002-2017. He made the World Cup squad in 2006, 2010, and 2014, and he started every game at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. Howard's 16 saves against Belgium in the 2014 round of 16 are a World Cup record.
Team USA entered the tournament ranked 17th in the FIFA Men's World Ranking. A tournament host hasn't won the World Cup since France in 1998.
The United States lost in the round of 16 against the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup. A nation from North America has never won the World Cup.
