US men’s soccer team could reach the knockout round of Olympics for first time since 2000

The U.S. men’s soccer team is nearing qualification for the knockout stage of the Olympics for the first time since the Sydney 2000 Games.

The group stage of the men's soccer tournament at the Paris Olympics wraps up on Tuesday. With only Spain and Japan having secured their spots in the quarterfinals, numerous nations are vying for the remaining places, leading to heightened tensions.

The U.S., participating in its first Olympics since Beijing 2008, is in a strong position after a 4-1 victory over New Zealand last week.

“Even before coming here, when people asked what they could expect from us, I said one thing: ‘I promise that this group is going to give everything on the field. Where that takes us, I don’t know, but they’re going to give everything,” U.S. coach Marko Mitrovic said.

Following the win against New Zealand, the Americans will face Guinea at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne. This victory came after Mitrovic’s team rebounded from a 3-0 loss to France in Group A.

The U.S. is currently in second place, tied with New Zealand on three points but ahead on goal difference. France, leading with six points, plays New Zealand in its final match and is expected to secure the win or draw needed to advance.

Depending on the outcomes of the final round of games, three teams could end up tied with either six or three points, which would necessitate the use of goal difference or other tiebreaker criteria to determine which teams move on.