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USMNT hold a World Cup record that may not be broken in 2026 tournament
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- USMNT hold a World Cup record that may not be broken in 2026 tournament
Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images
A legend of the USMNT still holds a World Cup record that seems incredibly unlikely to be broken anytime soon.
Quite how far the USMNT make it in this World Cup remains to be seen. The 1994 edition – the last World Cup tournament held in North America – saw the national team make it to the round of 16.
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The world is waiting to see what Mauricio Pochettino – undoubtedly one of the highest profile coaches in the tournament – can do with Christian Pulisic and co this summer.
It is a defensive record, however, that the USMNT are likely to hold onto this summer.
Tim Howard made record-breaking 16 saves against Belgium
Cast your minds back to the 2014 tournament in Brazil .
The US had just emerged out of a group also containing Portugal and Ghana to follow eventual World Cup winners Germany out of Group G.
They duly headed to the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador to meet a Belgium side packed to the rafters with talent.
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While Belgium would eventually go on to win the game, it is perhaps most memorable for the fantastic efforts of Tim Howard in goal.
Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
Howard, who was playing for Everton at the time, made a stunning 16 saves during the game.
It was a remarkable feat of goalkeeping and Howard was unlucky to have ended up on the losing side.
Kevin De Bruyne gave Belgium the lead in extra-time after a 0-0 draw, following a series of fine saves from Howard.
Romelu Lukaku doubled their lead seconds later before Julian Green scored even later into extra-time, but it was not enough to stop the USMNT in their tracks.
Still, it was Howard's Herculean efforts in goal that etched this particular game into World Cup history.
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It is hard to imagine that record being broken this year, regardless of how deep the USMNT go in the tournament.
Read more:
Everything you need to know about USMNT star man Christian Pulisic ahead of World Cup 2026
Every step of the USMNT's potential route to the World Cup 2026 final
Why the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony won't be held in the US
