World Cup post-mortem: How the USMNT moves forward after a disappointing Round of 16 exit

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

At first glance, the United States men’s national team had quite an impressive performance in the Group Stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

For the first time in history, the USMNT qualified for the knockout rounds with one group match remaining. Through two contests, the Americans outscored their opponents 6–1 and, thanks to a favorable bracket, had their sights set on the country’s second ever appearance in the World Cup quarterfinals.

The loss to Turkiye in the group stage finale raised some eyebrows, but it was easy to dismiss the loss since the USMNT had nothing to play for. Maybe it shouldn’t have been ignored. Maybe it was a sign of things to come.

Although the United States comfortably beat Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2–0, in the Round of 32, the train was already bouncing around on the tracks. And the whole damn thing went off the rails when the United States was thoroughly beaten by Belgium, 4–1, in the Round of 16.

Three wins in a World Cup feels like a major step forward. After all, it’s the most the United States men’s national team has earned in a single World Cup. Dig deeper, however, and you see the USMNT was punching down on most of its opposition. The team’s three wins this summer came against countries ranked 27th, 41st, and 64th in the final pre-World Cup FIFA rankings. (The United States was 17th.)

Turkiye entered the tournament ranked 22nd and scored three times against a USMNT lineup largely filled out with reserve players. Ninth-ranked Belgium, the only quality team the Americans played at the World Cup, blew the Americans off the pitch.

That Belgium squad that wiped the floor with the Yanks? That wasn’t even their golden generation. Guys like Eden Hazard, Jan Vertonghen, and Dries Mertens have retired from the national team. Kevin De Bruyne is 35. Thibaut Courtois is 34. Flat-track bully Romelu Lukaku is 33. They drew with Egypt and Iran in the group stage. This team was beatable … and they beat the brakes off of the United States.

The match against Belgium started circling the drain before either team took the pitch in Seattle. Folarin Balogun, who was harshly (and incorrectly) given a red card in the second half of the USMNT’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, was reinstated about 24 hours before kickoff. The decision itself was unprecedented and became an unbridled controversy when multiple news outlets reported that United States President Donald Trump personally reached out to FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review.

Maybe that meddling, perceived or otherwise, motivated the Belgians on Monday night. Regardless of the reason, it was the most lopsided loss the United States men’s national team has suffered in the knockout rounds of the World Cup. And it happened at home, in the one stadium that most closely resembles a fortress for this team.

The United States Soccer Federation has some soul searching to do in the coming months. Their first order of business will be a decision on the future of head coach Mauricio Pochettino, whose contract expires at the conclusion of the World Cup.

Although Pochettino instituted a more attack-minded style of play, his overall win percentage is nearly identical to his predecessor, Gregg Berhalter. Pochettino failed to win the Gold Cup (losing in the final to Mexico) or the Nations League (finishing fourth in 2025), competitions Berhalter won. Most notably, both men failed to advance the Americans beyond the World Cup Round of 16. Poch was supposed to elevate the USMNT beyond the ceiling the team had reached under its previous head coach, and while the team plays a different style of football under the Argentine, the results have remained the same.

Whether Pochettino continues on or the USSF hands the reins to someone else, the United States’ head coach has three main areas of focus as both the Nations League (starting Sept. 21) and Gold Cup (summer 2027) draw near.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Develop the players who showed out this summer

Folarin Balogun and Alex Freeman announced themselves as major players for the USMNT going forward. Balogun scored three goals for the United States and looked dangerous just about every time he touched the ball. Freeman was not expected to make a big impact at this World Cup, but the 21-year-old showed his potential to become a mainstay on the American back line moving forward.

You can even take it one step further and look at players like Tanner Tessmann, Johnny Cardoso and Diego Luna, who are younger players that did not make the final World Cup roster (although Tessmann and Luna probably should have).

Find solutions at positions of need

The wheels officially fell off against Belgium when goalkeeper Matt Freese lost his mind and forgot how to kick a ball. He was easily dispossessed before Hans Vanaken put the ball into an empty net to slam the door on any idea of a comeback.

That error alone shouldn’t cost Freese his position as the team’s starting goalkeeper, but it’s a symptom of a problem the USMNT has rarely had in its history: The lack of a clear no. 1 keeper.

Freese became the de facto starter because the USMNT’s former no. 1, Matt Turner, saw his form fall off a cliff. Neither Freese nor Turner should be starting between the sticks much longer.

The future of the position looks to be a three-way battle between Roman Celentano, Chris Brady and Gabriel Slonina. Celentano seems most likely to step up in the short term, as Brady and Slonina are both just 22 years old and still trying to find their footing as professionals.

Chris Richards is entrenched at one of the center back positions, but he needs a long-term partner in crime. Tim Ream captained the USMNT this summer, but he’s 38 years old, and it remains to be seen how many more games Ream will play for his country.

Freeman could be a long-term option alongside Richards, but the 21-year-old spent most of the World Cup playing right back. Mark McKenzie and Auston Trusty have also been given a run in the USMNT squad, but would need to show more before they could be considered a surefire starter.

Stop trying to make Christian Pulisic happen. He’s not going to happen. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Build around the players who contribute

A number of America’s elite players showed their quality at this World Cup. Antonee Robinson proved why he is one of the best attacking fullbacks in the Premier League. Weston McKennie did it all in midfield, as he often does for Juventus. Chris Richards battled through injury and did his best to hold together a rickety back line. Malik Tillman stepped up to become a threat on set pieces, scoring two goals on free kicks and delivering a number of quality corners.

There’s an elephant in this room with us right now, however, and he’s wearing a USMNT jersey with the number 10 on it.

Christian Pulisic left more games injured during this World Cup (two) than he tallied assists (one) and goals (zero). He looked great in the first half against Paraguay … and that was about it. Sebastian Berhalter, whose place on the roster was questioned by a number of American fans, contributed more on the score sheet than Pulisic.

Tyler Adams and Tim Ream have captained the USMNT more recently than the player nicknamed “Captain America.” Pulisic was never The Prince That Was Promised, no matter how hard U.S. Soccer, or the myriad commercials we’ve watched over the last few weeks, tried to speak it into existence.

Guys like Adams, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, Chris Richards, and Folarin Balogun have proven they are more important to the USMNT’s success than Pulisic. Be it inconsistent form or an inability to stay healthy, Pulisic simply cannot be relied upon to come through when his national team needs him the most.

We’ve been doing this dance with Pulisic for almost a decade now. He’s undoubtedly a talented player, and when he’s on his game, Pulisic is capable of making a difference for the USMNT. There are just too many variables that stand between the idea of Christian Pulisic and the player who takes the field for the United States.

Whoever is on the touch line for the United States men’s national team, and whichever players he is coaching, need to take advantage of the momentum moving through the country’s sports fans right now. Late political drama aside, the United States not only showed they can play host to the biggest tournament in the world, but that there is an appetite for more of The Beautiful Game here at home.

Just in time for the World Cup next year, where the United States men won’t be a plucky underdog, but the United States women will be among the favorites to win it all.