A Banner Year Ahead

When the calendar flipped to 2026, the countdown to the America 250 celebration began.  This year already promised to be a memorable one because of the anniversary, but we'll have plenty of chances to celebrate before the Fourth of July.  In fact, there are three different instances where we'll see Team USA this year, and two of those events are taking place at home.  Then there's a fourth scheduled for the Fall.

Up first is the Winter Olympics, which are set for next month in Italy.  It'll be the first Winter Olympics in eight years without COVID restrictions, and the first in Europe since 2014.  There's obviously plenty of excitement heading into any Olympics, but this year it feels like there's even more.  That could be because of the different circumstances and finally having the Winter Games out of Asia.  But I think it's more because of how strong Team USA figures to be in so many different sports.

Mikaela Shiffrin had a disappointing Olympics four years ago.  You know she wants to redeem herself in Cortina.  And Lindsey Vonn is back!  After working for NBC in 2022, she'll be competing on NBC in 2026!  Chole Kim and Jessie Diggins are back, as well.  And the U.S. figure skating squad, which won a delayed gold in the team event in Beijing, could dominate in Milan.  Three reigning World Champions are American, and it's not crazy to think the U.S. can take gold in all three events at the Olympics, as well.  And this time, they won't have to wait if they win gold in the team event again.

And, of course, the NHL is sending its players to the Olympics for the first time since 2014.  The United States won the World Championship last year for the first time in 92 years.  And finished second at the Four Nations Face-Off.  Most of that roster makes up the Olympic roster, and USA Hockey has been clear about its expectations.  They're not hoping for a medal.  That's the bare minimum.  Not medaling would be a disappointment.  Gold is the clear goal.

Almost immediately after the Olympics end, another event that the USA expects to win begins.  The World Baseball Classic, which takes place in Houston and Miami (and Tokyo and San Juan) during Spring Training.  After losing to Japan in the final of the last edition in 2023, the Americans have put together a star-studded roster in an attempt to flip the script.

Aaron Judge is the team captain.  Cal Raleigh and Will Smith will be the catchers.  Kyle Schwarber and Bobby Witt Jr. will play.  Bryce Harper has said he intends to play.  I don't know how Mark DeRosa's gonna make a lineup with so many All-Stars available to him!  And that pitching staff!  WOW!  Both Paul Skenes AND Tarik Skubal have already committed.  With plenty more names still to be added. 

Winning the World Baseball Classic is by no means a guarantee.  That's part of the beauty of that tournament, with Major League stars on every roster.  But this could end up being the best roster that Team USA has ever assembled in six editions of the WBC.  And that includes 2017, when they won their only championship.  The pitching staff, especially, has never been this good!

Then in June and July is the big one.  The biggest sporting event of the year is the biggest World Cup ever.  FIFA President Gianni Infantino has compared it to "104 Super Bowls" over the course of six weeks.  The United States is co-hosting with Mexico and Canada, but a majority of the games are in the U.S., including the final at MetLife Stadium.  The whole World Cup will fit into the America 250 celebration, and there's a round of 16 game in Philadelphia (which is also hosting the MLB All*Star Game...for obvious reasons) on the Fourth of July!

It would be a stretch to say the United States is among the favorites at the World Cup.  I don't think anyone expects them to win.  The question is how far can they go?  Can they reach the quarterfinals or even possibly make it to the semis?  Anything less, frankly, would probably be considered a disappointment.  Especially with the teams that were drawn into the USA's group!

This isn't 1994.  When the U.S. first hosted the World Cup 32 years ago, it was about growing the game and showcasing it to a market with vast potential.  The United States wasn't a "soccer country" then.  Now it is.  This is a chance to show how far U.S. Soccer has come.  The fact that there actually are expectations for a home World Cup are proof of that.

Finally, Team USA's big 2026 ends in September with the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup in Berlin.  The United States has been just as dominant at the World Cup as it has at the Olympics.  The four-time defending champions haven't lost a game at the World Cup since the 2006 semifinals.  And there's no reason to believe it won't become five straight titles in 2026.

There's a very real possibility that there will be a WNBA work stoppage fairly soon.  Who knows how long it'll last or how much it'll impact the season?  The WNBA usually either ends the season early enough or takes a break for the World Cup.  USA Basketball is counting on WNBA players being available.  So, it'll be very interesting to see how that all shakes out.

For the record, I fully expect there to be a WNBA season and WNBA players to participate in the World Cup.  But, if there isn't a WNBA season, the World Cup could be our first chance to see some of those stars in quite a while.  (The Unrivaled season ends in March.)  It's good to know that there will be top-level women's basketball played no matter what this year, however.

So, we've got a loaded 2026 ahead!  America's 250th birthday will be a year-long celebration.  And there will be plenty of opportunities for Team USA to contribute to that patriotic feeling at multiple events across the globe (two of which are on home soil) both before and after the birthday party of all birthday parties on the Fourth of July.