INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 12: Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group D match between USA and Paraguay at Los Angeles Stadium on June 12, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Sarah Stier – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
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The FIFA World Cup is the ultimate barometer for many teams, reminding them just how they are in the planet’s soccer order.
For the U.S. Men’s National Team, it was a sobering reminder just how far it needs to go to join the world’s elite.
The Americans can take plaudits for making some history by winning their group for the first time, recording three victories in the tournament.
On the flip side, however, the USA could not get past the Round of 16, being outplayed and embarrassed by Belgium in a 4-1 defeat at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Before the World Cup kicked off, many soccer pundits, media, and fans thought a reasonable finish in the tournament would be reaching the quarterfinals, but the U.S. fell short for the fourth time in five attempts (2010, 2014, 2022, 2026). The team failed to advance from its group in 2006.
The last time the U.S. reached the quarterfinals was a generation ago, at the 2002 World Cup. The team defeated archrival Mexico in the Round of 16, 2-0, before falling to Germany in the quarters, 1-0.
It also should be noted that all three co-hosts – Mexico, Canada and the U.S. – were eliminated in the Round of 16.
Here is a look at the good, bad and ugly of the USMNT:
Earning an A in Group D
No one saw it coming. Not only did the Red, White and Blue qualify for the knockout round by winning its first two matches, it also captured the Group D title. The only other time it happened? At the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930.
The Americans rolled to an impressive 4-1 triumph over Paraguay in its opener before taking down Australia, 2-0. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino decided to rest virtually all of his regulars (including four key players with yellow cards) in what was essentially a meaningless match against Türkiye in the finale. The U.S. lost on the final kick of the game, 3-2. It wasn’t the end of the world.
The team continued its fine performance with a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round 16, an encounter marred by a controversial red card on forward Folarin Balogun while he was battling for the ball with Tarik Muharemovic. The U.S. played the final 26 minutes of regulation and stoppage time a man down, but showed its maturity by not falling apart and adding a late goal.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JULY 06: Tim Ream #13 of the United States reacts after Belgium’s fourth goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 06, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
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The Belgium nightmare
What an eye-opener. After such a promising start, the Americans could do very little right against the Belgians in the Round of 16. They lost their spark, playing tentatively and were slow to the ball, particularly on defense. That allowed Belgium to strike first in the ninth minute, the first time the USA failed to score the opening goal. The hosts equalized in the 31st minute but committed the No. 1 cardinal sin of soccer, allowing an opponent to score just after their goal. For the record, it was 61 seconds later and broke the U.S.’s back.
Still within striking distance, goalkeeper Matt Freese, who had a decent World Cup entering the match, gave away the ball when he ventured out of the penalty area in the Charles De Ketelaere knocked the ball away from him and Hans Vanaken had an easy time drilling a shot into the empty net into the lower right corner for a 3-1 advantage. That was another back-breaking moment.
“We didn’t get into the game. Even when we scored the goal at 1-1, we conceded in the next action,” head coach Mauricio Pochettino said. “It was very tough. Congratulations to Belgium, they were better than us. It’s not to find excuses, we didn’t show what we normally showed. That is the reality.”
It was the most goals the U.S. conceded in a World Cup match since the 5-1 loss to Czechoslovakia in 1990.
The bottom line: The U.S., with this so-called “Golden Generation” of players, is not ready to play evenly or defeat the European elite teams, and most likely the best of South America (Argentina and Brazil). That is quite surprising because many USMNT players perform in top leagues across the Atlantic Ocean (Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1) against the world’s best.
“That just didn’t feel like it was us out there today,” defender Antonee Robinson said. “We didn’t win any individual duels. We looked like we lacked energy. We looked like we weren’t as fluid as we have been.”
Now, it’s wait ’til 2030.
“I don’t think we had a good game today, collectively,” Balogun said. We played well in the other games. We were very intense, we were able to generate energy with the crowd, and today we didn’t give the crowd a lot to cheer for. That’s the most disappointing thing and that’s the part that hurts the most for me personally. We have to wait four years again to be in this position, which is hurtful again.”
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JULY 01: Folarin Balogun #20 of the United States fouls Tarik Muharemovic #4 of Bosnia and Herzegovina which is later reviewed by VAR and awarded as a red card foul a during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 32 match between USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina at San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 01, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)
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Going with Flo
Separating the Belgium debacle from the rest of the tournament, several U.S. players enhanced their reputations. Their market values rose considerably during the World Cup, and it would not be surprising if European teams sought after their services with lucrative contract deals.
Balogun topped the list. He connected twice in the opener and finished with a team-high three goals, the second-best production from an American forward since Bert Patenaude finished with four goals in the 1930 World Cup.
The 25-year-old forward wound up in the middle of a controversy due to the red card he received against Bosnia. It appeared Balogun should have been awarded a yellow card. But after the Video Assistant Referee and then referee Raphael Claus intervened, he was ejected. The expulsion also meant he would have to sit out the U.S.’s next match – against Belgium.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee, however, citing a rare rule, allowed Balogun to be eligible to perform in the Round of 16, while he was put on probation for a year. When President Trump revealed that he had spoken to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, it raised major concerns in many quarters about politics rearing its ugly head and the possibility of back-room deals being made.
Balogun started against Belgium and was far from a difference-maker.
“I mean, for me, I accepted the decision when I was given the red card, but then I also accepted the decision when I was told I could play,” Balogun said. “There’s not too much else I can say on the matter.”
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, UNITED STATES – JULY 1: Chris Richards of USA celebrates the victory during the World Cup match between USA v Bosnia and Herzegovina at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium on July 1, 2026 in San Francisco Bay Area United States (Photo by Eric Verhoeven/Soccrates/Getty Images)
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Chris Richards rises to the occasion
Before the World Cup, the big question mark was whether Richards could be healthy enough to start as he recovered from an ankle injury. He did, and the center back became the USA’s best defender. It was easy to lose count of how many dangerous crosses and balls Richards headed out of harm’s way. He teamed with Tim Ream in the middle of the defense as they acquitted themselves well before the Belgium disaster.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JULY 6: Malik Tillman #17 of the United States celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Seattle, United States. (Photo by Al Sermeno/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
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Tillman gets his free kicks
With the media, he is quiet and unassuming. On the field, Malik Tillman was brilliant. Not known as a goal-scorer, Tillman entered the tournament with three goals in 30 international matches. He left it with five, thanks to a pair of marvelous free kicks. The 24-year-old midfielder gave the Americans some much-needed breathing room with his late goal against Bosnia and drilled a 25-yard free kick to knot things up against Belgium in the 31st minute on Monday night.
He became the first player in a World Cup to score goals off consecutive free kicks in a World Cup after France’s Bernard Genghini did so in 1982.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JULY 06: Christian Pulisic #10 of the United States reacts after challenged by Youri Tielemans #8 of Belgium during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 06, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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Injury-prone Pulisic a disappointment
Everyone was poised for a big tournament by Christian Pulisic. Considered the best player of his generation, if not the best American ever, Pulisic did not live up to the hype or expectations. Injuries did not help.
Pulisic, who has tallied 33 goals in 90 international appearances, did not score in this tournament. In eight World Cup matches, he has only one goal, in the 1-0 win over Iran in Qatar in 2022.
He owned the left wing in the Paraguay rout before being forced to the sidelines at halftime with a calf injury. After sitting out a game, he returned for a cameo role off the bench against Türkiye. He started and played well against Bosnia but was a non-factor vs. Belgium, particularly in the first half. He limped off in the second half with a twisted right ankle.
While shooting on goal in the 52nd minute, he suffered the injury when he hit the boot of Belgium captain Youri Tielemans.
“I felt really good this summer with the guys, and I thought my level was high,” Pulisic said. “It’s disappointing I didn’t quite have the moments I was hoping to and to try to help us to get over this next step of beating a really good team.”
As fine a player as Pulisic is, his career has been hampered by many injuries.
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – JULY 6: United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino along the sidelines prior to playing Belgium during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 16 match at Seattle Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Seattle, United States. (Photo by John Todd/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images).
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Coach Pochettino’s future
After the Belgium loss, Pochettino said it was too early to talk about his future with the USMNT. His contract runs through the World Cup.
Pochettino’s representatives have been talking to U.S. Soccer about a possible contract extension.
Outside of French head coach Didier Deschamps, who has guided the team to the 2018 World Cup championship and into the 2022 final and has the side on course to reach this year’s final at MetLife Stadium on July 19, only a handful of coaches have done well in their second term.
That includes USMNT coaches.
* Bruce Arena guided the U.S. to a quarterfinal finish in 2002, but the team did not get out of its group in 2006.
* Bob Bradley directed the Americans into the 2010 Round of 16, but was fired by then U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati, who preferred Jurgen Klinsmann as head coach.
* Klinsmann coached the USA to the Round of 16 in 2014 but was fired after an abysmal start to the 2018 qualifying campaign. Arena took over, but the U.S. did not reach the World Cup in Russia.
* Gregg Berhalter led the USMNT to the 2022 tournament as the team reached the Round of 16 yet again. He was fired after the Americans failed to get out of their group at Copa America in 2024.
Michael Lewis, the sixth recipient of the Clay Berling Media Career of Excellence Award in 2025, can be followed on Bluesky at @Soccerwriter. His 10th soccer book, Around the World Cup in 40 Years: An American sportswriter’s perspective, has been published.