{"id":3457,"date":"2026-07-01T12:06:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T12:06:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457"},"modified":"2026-07-01T12:06:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T12:06:55","slug":"kurtenbach-if-the-u-s-men-really-want-us-to-believe-theyll-deliver-a-reckoning-in-the-bay","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457","title":{"rendered":"Kurtenbach: If the U.S. men really want us to believe, they\u2019ll deliver a reckoning in the Bay"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

Let\u2019s get the crazy, preposterous, downright-earth-shattering part out of the way right now:<\/p>\n

Read more Top two candidates set for three San Jose council runoffs in November<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not ridiculous to consider that the United States can win the World Cup.<\/p>\n

A bit of a stretch? Of course. But just a bit.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re five wins away, starting Wednesday in Santa Clara in their Round of 32 knockout matchup with Bosnia and Herzegovina.<\/p>\n

And the first one should be the easiest of them all.<\/p>\n

How is it that we\u2019ve reached this point of possibility?<\/p>\n

Well, through three games in this World Cup, we\u2019ve already learned so much about the USMNT.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve learned that their top-end talent, when activated, can make the Americans look as good as any team in the world. They aren\u2019t just plucky underdogs, winning on guile and the power of friendship anymore. They\u2019re actual apex predators.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

We\u2019ve learned that midfielder Malik Tillman can play deeper. That subtle tactical shift opens up far more opportunities than expected for Weston McKennie to push forward, crash the box, and create absolute havoc in the final third.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve learned that Chris Richards is not just an idea of an elite center back \u2014 a soccer hipster favorite. No, he is, actually, an elite center back. Period.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve learned that Alex Freeman\u2019s inevitable breakout at right back won\u2019t happen at 24 or 25 years old. It is happening right now, at 21, on the sport\u2019s biggest stage.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve learned that Folarin Balogun isn\u2019t just a striker. He is a creator of the highest order, a forward who can link play just as well as he finishes it and who is most dangerous when he flexes out to the wing.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

And, to be fair, we\u2019ve learned some not-so-great things, too.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve learned that this team can still get caught napping on set pieces. A dead ball in the defensive third remains a terrifying proposition for American fans, a lingering ghost of tournaments past.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve learned that this team\u2019s depth might not be what we thought it could be. The drop-off from the starting eleven to the bench is still a steep, terrifying cliff in a few vital spots.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve learned that the goalie position \u2014 typically the singular, bedrock strength of the United States \u2014 is still a glaring question mark.<\/p>\n

At least we know the No. 1 isn\u2019t Matt Turner. We learned that the hard way last Thursday.<\/p>\n

But now, we get to find out so, so, so much more.<\/p>\n

Because the best-case scenario is on the table, but nothing is guaranteed in the tournament of tournaments.<\/p>\n

Wednesday\u2019s game against Bosnia and Herzegovina is the exact kind of game that the new, confident, top-tier-talented United States should win with ease. They possess better athletes, a deeper tactical bag, and the overwhelming advantage of a rabid home crowd.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also the exact kind of game that the U.S. has, in past World Cups, turned into a deep, painful slog.<\/p>\n

The American soccer neurosis is built entirely on these matchups. You expect a coronation, a promotion to the big-kid\u2019s table, and you end up chewing your fingernails to the bone while some guy whose name has too many consonants dominates your midfield like he\u2019s playing for his club team in the Belarusian second division.<\/p>\n

Read more What patriotism looks like in Los Gatos as America turns 250<\/a><\/p>\n

But this isn\u2019t 2010 or 2014. And, mercy, is it a far cry from 2018.<\/p>\n

The wins against Paraguay and Australia might indicate that the Americans have finally risen above that agonizing level.<\/p>\n

Might.<\/p>\n

That neurosis \u2014 decades of CONCACAF qualifying, Gold Cupping, and World Cup scrapping \u2014 isn\u2019t going away after two fantastic games.<\/p>\n

But yes, the U.S. dispatched teams it was supposed to dispatch. And the Americans looked like something more than just match favorites in doing it.<\/p>\n

And now, a familiar test. The Bosnians are stubborn. They are gritty. They\u2019re leaving with something \u2014 a win or blood. Perhaps both.<\/p>\n

But they don\u2019t have the sheer athletic firepower of the United States.<\/p>\n

This is the moment. Hopefully the first of many more to come.<\/p>\n

Because what\u2019s at stake on Wednesday at Levi\u2019s Stadium isn\u2019t just a trip to the Round of 16. It\u2019s the validation of an entire generation of American soccer hype and hope.<\/p>\n

For decades, true fans begged for players starting in Europe\u2019s top leagues. Now we have them.<\/p>\n

We begged for a team that didn\u2019t have to bunker down and pray for a miracle counterattack. Now we have one.<\/p>\n

The talent is undeniable. The tactics are clear and radiant.<\/p>\n

If you can convincingly beat Paraguay and Australia, and if you can flex your muscles against a sturdy Bosnian squad, the bracket starts to look awfully enticing. A graying generation of Belgium. A Spain team that hasn\u2019t come together quite yet (and might not). We\u2019re going to ignore the top of the bracket, where France hangs over everyone else like a cryptic threat, for now.<\/p>\n

And all of this is why you can whisper the insane thought. That is why you can picture the confetti falling in July.<\/p>\n

It will require health. It will require toughness. It will require every player on the team to play his best soccer, ever, for the next three weeks. No exceptions.<\/p>\n

Yes, it\u2019s a long, long shot.<\/p>\n

But it no longer requires a miracle.<\/p>\n

On Wednesday, the Americans need to prove that the old demons are dead. They need to step onto the pitch in Santa Clara, look at a thoroughly decent Bosnian team and casually run them off the fast-track grass at the home of the 49ers.<\/p>\n

No drama. No nail-biting. No heroic goal-line clearances in the 94th minute to save us from embarrassment.<\/p>\n

Just sheer dominance. The kind of dominance that actual World Cup contenders display when dealing with the middleweights of international soccer.<\/p>\n

If they pull that off, then it\u2019s really time to start believing the hype. All of it.<\/p>\n

Read more Opinion: As debate rages over Iran deal, let\u2019s acknowledge how much we have already lost<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

World Cup 2026: The USMNT is heavy favorites against Bosnia and Herzegovina.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3456,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\nKurtenbach: If the U.S. men really want us to believe, they\u2019ll deliver a reckoning in the Bay - Next City Digest<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Kurtenbach: If the U.S. men really want us to believe, they\u2019ll deliver a reckoning in the Bay - Next City Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"World Cup 2026: The USMNT is heavy favorites against Bosnia and Herzegovina.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Next City Digest\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-07-01T12:06:55+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=3457#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=3457\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b\"},\"headline\":\"Kurtenbach: If the U.S. men really want us to believe, they\u2019ll deliver a reckoning in the Bay\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-01T12:06:55+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=3457\"},\"wordCount\":1059,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=3457#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/c73101048b0877df1d2f9e1f6e586872.webp\",\"articleSection\":[\"Sports\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=3457#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=3457\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=3457\",\"name\":\"Kurtenbach: If the U.S. men really want us to believe, they\u2019ll deliver a reckoning in the Bay - Next City Digest\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=3457#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=3457#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/c73101048b0877df1d2f9e1f6e586872.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-07-01T12:06:55+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=3457#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=3457\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=3457#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/c73101048b0877df1d2f9e1f6e586872.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/07\\\/c73101048b0877df1d2f9e1f6e586872.webp\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":733},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?p=3457#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Kurtenbach: If the U.S. men really want us to believe, they\u2019ll deliver a reckoning in the Bay\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Next City Digest\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/nextcitydigest.com\\\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Kurtenbach: If the U.S. men really want us to believe, they\u2019ll deliver a reckoning in the Bay - Next City Digest","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Kurtenbach: If the U.S. men really want us to believe, they\u2019ll deliver a reckoning in the Bay - Next City Digest","og_description":"World Cup 2026: The USMNT is heavy favorites against Bosnia and Herzegovina.","og_url":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457","og_site_name":"Next City Digest","article_published_time":"2026-07-01T12:06:55+00:00","author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457"},"author":{"name":"admin","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/#\/schema\/person\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b"},"headline":"Kurtenbach: If the U.S. men really want us to believe, they\u2019ll deliver a reckoning in the Bay","datePublished":"2026-07-01T12:06:55+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457"},"wordCount":1059,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/c73101048b0877df1d2f9e1f6e586872.webp","articleSection":["Sports"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457","url":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457","name":"Kurtenbach: If the U.S. men really want us to believe, they\u2019ll deliver a reckoning in the Bay - Next City Digest","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/c73101048b0877df1d2f9e1f6e586872.webp","datePublished":"2026-07-01T12:06:55+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/#\/schema\/person\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/c73101048b0877df1d2f9e1f6e586872.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/c73101048b0877df1d2f9e1f6e586872.webp","width":1024,"height":733},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?p=3457#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Kurtenbach: If the U.S. men really want us to believe, they\u2019ll deliver a reckoning in the Bay"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/","name":"Next City Digest","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/#\/schema\/person\/13065d40d633843429ac57d4e5c06f9b","name":"admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/50b1ad2e498f523425ee0a8cc5180a210646db1622662a3d56cc405d3e0c346a?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"admin"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/nextcitydigest.com"],"url":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/?author=1"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3457","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3457"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3457\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3456"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3457"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3457"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nextcitydigest.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3457"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}