The U.S. men's soccer team doesn't have a history of performing well at the Olympics, but they face Guinea in their final group match with a chance to advance and reverse their recent struggles.
The U.S., who sit second in Group A standings with three points from their first two games, are favored to reach the quarterfinals but will have to go the distance against Guinea, who lost their first two games.
The U.S. men's team hasn't reached the final tournament of an Olympic Games since the 2000 Sydney Games, losing in the group stage in 2008, its only appearance since then.
A win against Guinea would almost guarantee a place in the quarter-finals, but a draw or loss would leave them in jeopardy, and Sporting News looks at all the scenarios as coach Marko Mitrovic prepares his team for a gruelling 90 minutes.
Read more: 2024 Olympic Games men's and women's football fixtures, results and standings
2024 Olympic Games Men's Football Group A Standings
| position | Country | point | GP | WDL | Good Day |
| 1. | France | 6 | 2 | 2-0-0 | +4 |
| 2. | united states of america | 3 | 2 | 1-0-1 | 0 |
| 3. | new zealand | 3 | 2 | 1-0-1 | -2 |
| Four. | Guinea | 0 | 2 | 0-0-2 | -2 |
The U.S. earned three points from its first two group games for the 2024 Olympics, losing its opening game to hosts France before bouncing back with a big win over New Zealand.
This puts the United States on the brink of advancing to the knockout stage or being eliminated in the final game, where they will face last-placed Guinea in a life-or-death match.
How U.S. Men's Soccer Qualifies for the Olympic Knockout Stage
The United States could still advance to the knockout stage even if they lost to Guinea, but they would need significant outside help to do so, and the United States is unlikely to want to place its fate in the hands of others.
Simply put, the U.S. needs to match or beat the performance of New Zealand, who will face hosts France in their final group game, to advance to the knockout stage.
That means a win would see New Zealand through to the knockout stages, unless they also beat France to erase their two-point deficit — an unlikely but theoretically possible outcome.
If New Zealand beat the USA's result, or tied them and overturned the goal difference, New Zealand would advance to the knockout stage instead.
The U.S. men's soccer team could advance to the quarterfinals of the 2024 Olympics if any of the following conditions are met:
- USA wins against Guinea and…
- New Zealand to lose or draw with France or
- New Zealand beats France and USA maintains goal difference advantage over New Zealand
- USA vs Guinea draw and New Zealand to lose or draw with France
- USA loses to Guinea and New Zealand loses to France and USA maintains goal difference advantage over New Zealand
The U.S. men's soccer team has dropped out of the 2024 Olympics for the following reasons:
- USA wins against Guinea and New Zealand beats France and New Zealand surpasses USA on goal difference
- USA vs Guinea draw and New Zealand beats France
- USA loses to Guinea and…
- New Zealand to win or draw against France or
- New Zealand loses to France and USA loses goal difference advantage
