End Of The World Cup: 4 Takeaways From USA’s Knockout Loss To Belgium

SEATTLE STADIUM — It’s the end of the world for the U.S. men’s national team.

The USA was the final 2026 FIFA World Cup co-host still standing after Canada and Mexico were eliminated over the weekend. On Monday, the Americans joined them, losing 4-1 to Belgium in front of another raucous home crowd with a spot in Friday’s quarterfinal against Spain on the line.

“Tonight was not a good performance,” midfielder Tyler Adams said. “It sucks.” 

Despite the controversial return of striker Folarin Balogun to coach Mauricio Pochettino’s starting lineup — Balogun, who was originally suspended for Monday’s contest because of the red card he received in last week’s 2-0 victory in the round of 32 over Bosnia and Herzegovina, was allowed to play by FIFA’s disciplinary committee following pressure from U.S. Soccer and government officials — the U.S. couldn’t top an opponent global soccer’s governing body ranks No. 9 to the Stars and Stripes’ No. 16.

It only took Charles De Ketelaere eight minutes to put Belgium ahead. And while USA playmaker Malik Tillman pulled the hosts level with his second free-kick goal in as many knockout games, the Belgian forward killed whatever momentum Tillman’s strike had generated by notching his second — the eventual game-winner — moments later to restore the Red Devils’ lead. 

They wouldn’t relinquish it again, with Hans Vanaken adding the backbreaking third in the second half following a mistake from Stars and Stripes keeper Matt Freese. Romelu Lukaku added insult to injury with Belgium’s fourth in stoppage time. 

“Today we didn’t show our real quality as a team,” Pochettino said. “We need to accept that sometimes this type of thing happens. But in a tournament like a World Cup, when that happens, you don’t have another chance.”

Monday’s defeat marks the fourth time the U.S. has been eliminated in the round of 16 since 2010. The Americans’ only win at that stage came against regional rival Mexico in 2002.

Here are my four takeaways from the USA’s World Cup elimination loss:

1. Belgium Was The Better Team…

As impressive as the Belgians were in coming back to beat Senegal in the round of 32, despite trailing 2-0 late, the Red Devils hadn’t been overly convincing at this World Cup. In group play, they couldn’t beat Egypt. They couldn’t beat Iran. Rumors of infighting persisted even after Rudi Garcia’s team had advanced to the last 16.

Perhaps it was FIFA’s decision to overturn Balogun’s ban, but Belgium appeared as cohesive as could be from the first whistle on Monday. It’s not as if either of De Ketelaere goals came against the run of play; Garcia’s side outshot the U.S., 11-2, in the first half and enjoyed 53% of possession, even though the Americans trailed for all but 10 of the opening 45 minutes.

When the U.S. did have the ball, it didn’t do much with it. Pochettino’s squad had looked so sharp and assertive all tournament; suddenly it appeared sloppy and tentative in its biggest game. Even Tillman’s free kick lacked precision; only a fortunate deflection off the Belgian wall allowed the effort to beat veteran backstop Thibaut Courtois.

“I wouldn’t say we weren’t as aggressive” as in previous games, Christian Pulisic said. “Belgium had a good game plan. They played balls in behind us when we pressed and caused a lot of problems, won a lot of second balls, and they were good in the boxes. That’s what the game comes down to. And they were clinical.”

The second half wasn’t much better for the U.S. And when Belgium went up by two, the mountain was simply too tall for the Americans to climb.

2. … But Unforced Errors Doomed The USA. Again.

Four years ago in Qatar, the U.S. began its round of 16 contest vs. the Netherlands superbly. But the Dutch punished the first mistake the Americans made — Memphis Depay was allowed to arrive in the box unchecked, easily finishing Denzel Dumfries’ deft cutback pass — and never looked back on the way to a decisive 3-1 victory.

With that unhappy experience under their belts, an older and wider USA was supposed to know better this time. That’s not how it played out. Errors are rarely forgiven at World Cups. That goes double in elimination games. Yet both of De Ketelaere’s goals were preventable; the other U.S. defenders were slow to react to Alex Freeman’s wayward clearance on the first. On the second, the Italy-based striker out-jumped flat-footed U.S. captain Tim Ream.

The timing of Belgium’s second goal was terrible, coming just 61 seconds after play restarted following Tillman’s equalizer. While that strike killed the momentum, the fatal blow came just before the half-hour mark. Freese was the culprit this time, with Vanaken firing Belgium’s third into the Americans’ vacated net after Freese raced out of his 18-yard-box for an interception, only to promptly give the ball away.

“Obviously, disappointed for my error and judgment on the third goal,” Freese said. “I wish the result was different.”

3. Mauricio Pochettino Owns This Failure

On Sunday, Pochettino sought to insulate himself from criticism in the event of a loss, saying that he is but “a small part” and that his “players are responsible” for the outcome. But the buck stops with USA’s high-profile 54-year-old coach, who simply couldn’t coax a good performance out of his team against the only elite opponent it faced at this World Cup. 

Lured as a mercenary with a salary several multiples higher than any previous men’s or women’s boss, the Argentine was supposed to be the man capable of taking perhaps the most talented collection of Americans ever to new heights. Instead, it turned out to be more of the same.

While he set a new U.S. record with three World Cup wins, Pochettino was only able to equal what every one of his predecessors this century also achieved: reaching the round of 16. Gregg Berhalter did it four years ago in Qatar. Jürgen Klinsmann’s 2014 squad took Belgium to extra time. Bob Bradley did the same in 2010 after winning a group that included England. And none of them had the advantage of playing at home.

“It was a very bad day,” Pochettino said. And it ensures that the Americans’ best showing since the inaugural World Cup in 1930 — Bruce Arena took the Americans all the way to the quarterfinals in 2002 — will remain so for at least another four years. 

All that talk about reaching the semis this summer, about leaving a legacy, about potentially even winning the World Cup — “Why Not Us?” Pochettino asked at every opportunity — was just that: talk.

Top-level sports are a results business. You are what your record says you are. After winning his first two games and a round of 32 match at this World Cup, the former Paris Saint-Germain manager, in the end lost the game that mattered the most. It was surely his last with the U.S., though he didn’t say so explicitly. “Now,” Pochettino said when asked if he might return, “is not a moment to talk about that.” 

4. What Comes Next For The Stars And Stripes?

Expect changes in the short term. Pochettino was probably never coming back after the World Cup anyway, despite the U.S. Soccer Federation offering before the World Cup to extend his contract through 2030. If that offer isn’t off the table now, it should be.

Who will replace Poch? With a search led by USSF CEO JT Batson, new COO Dan Helfrich and acting sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, my money is on Portuguese manager Roberto Martinez, who announced following his team’s loss to Spain that he would not return to the Lusos’ sideline.

Or, perhaps the USSF will buy American. There aren’t many obvious domestic candidates; among those, former U.S. assistant B.J. Callaghan might have the best case, having led the U.S. to the 2023 Nations League title as interim coach.

Beyond that, who knows? Wednesday’s defeat doesn’t fall on Batson or U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone, who both have been wildly successful in their respective roles.

Finally, this was surely the international swan song for players such as 38-year-old captain Tim Ream, reserve midfielder Cristian Roldan and others, too. Will Antonee “Jedi” Robinson’s knees last to Morocco, Portugal and Spain for the 2030 World Cup, when he’ll be almost 33? What about the fragile hamstrings of Tyler Adams or Gio Reyna or Sergiño Dest? Adams, McKennie and Pulisic will all also be on the wrong side of 30. Matt Turner will turn 36 during the 2030 World Cup.

Pochettino’s roster featured 13 holdovers from 2022. It’s hard to see that many mainstays returning four years from now. 

“Right now it definitely stinks,” Pulisic said. “[We’ll try to] get some rest now and bounce back as best we can.”