Former U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard says he believes it is “literally impossible” for the U.S. men’s national team (USMNT) to win the 2026 World Cup. Speaking on his podcast with Landon Donovan, Howard argues that, for the team to have a realistic chance, it would need to perform at an extraordinary level consistently. He says the U.S. would have to play “the greatest game they’ve ever played” in four consecutive matches, describing the situation as beyond what he expects the team can achieve. Howard’s comments focus on the difficulty of sustaining top-tier performances across the tournament’s knockout stages and the overall demands required to win the World Cup. The remarks are presented as his personal assessment rather than a prediction grounded in official tournament odds or a specific tactical analysis. The discussion centers on the performance level required over multiple games and Howard’s view that the USMNT will not be able to reach that standard.