How USMNT can advance to World Cup knockout stage

With Wales losing to Iran and the USMNT drawing with England, here’s how the United States can advance to the World Cup knockout stage.

If the draw against Wales didn’t already taste terribly for the USMNT at the 2022 World Cup, then it most definitely does now.

To begin the action in Qatar on Friday, we were delivered another stunning result as Wales conceded two late goals and took a loss to Iran. That now puts the Iranian side with three points. Wales has just one point while the US has two and England still sits

But with such a shocking result now in the books for Group B, fans are wondering what the Americans now need to advance out of the group stage and to the knockout stage of the World Cup.

How USMNT can advance to World Cup knockout stage

Updated after USMNT-England draw 0-0: The draw against the Three Lions is an absolute massive result for the United States.

Though it’s not as secure of a position as if the Americans had been able to come out with the win, the fact of the matter is that back-to-back draws heading into the final match of the group stage against the worst team in Group B — Wales result aside — in Iran is massively important.

Now, the clearest path is the only path for the United States. This side must beat Iran on Tuesday, Nov. 29 to advance to the knockout stage. A draw would give the US only three points and Iran four points, thus eliminating the USMNT. And a loss would obviously do the same. A win, however, would secure the US’s spot in the knockout rounds as they would have five points, a total that could only be matched by England depending on their result against Wales.

So while the paths may not be as numerous as they were coming into Friday’s match, it’s an incredibly achievable goal for the US to advance now. If they show the form they did against England when they face Iran, it’d be hard to imagine how the USMNT wouldn’t move through.