Poll: 87% think USA will reach sweet 16 or better at World Cup — USA Soccer Stud

Can the United States win the World Cup this summer? No, say the majority of ESPN.com readers in an online poll, but they’ll finish better than they did in 2006.

After nearly 200,000 votes, 35 percent think the team will finish in the round of 16, about where the squad is ranked by FIFA. A fourth think the U.S. will go as far as the quarterfinals—as they did in 2002—and 13 percent think the team leave in the first round, like they did last time in Germany.

As for truly optimistic pollsters, 8 percent think the team will repeat their 1950 semi-final finish, while 17% believe hope the team will go all the way.

In an effort to tame possible disappointment, USA Soccer Stud voted “quarterfinals,” but deep down is rooting for a final finish. After all, why play if you don’t think you can win?

Where do you think the U.S. will finish this summer?