SEATTLE – The magnitude of this missed opportunity cannot be overstated.
The U.S. hosting its second men’s World Cup had been anticipated for decades, and home field advantage was supposed to help its senior men’s national team get over the Round of 16 hump. The momentum was palpable. The setting was perfect, with the USMNT’s clash with Belgium on Monday taking place in Seattle, a soccer city where the team had already displayed an inspired brand of the sport weeks earlier.
Convincing performances against Paraguay, Australia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina led many to believe that this version of the USMNT was peaking at the right time. It led many to believe that even when they collided with a top team – like the Red Devils, ranked ninth in the world – they were capable of taking the next step.
While they were undoubtedly capable, they were still, clearly, not good enough in an embarrassing 4-1 defeat.
Joseph Lowery
The obituary for the USMNT’s 2026 World Cup run is complicated. It ended in bitter disappointment that may drown out the on-ball fluidity and dominant defensive showings that represent some form of progress.
“If we lose to Bosnia, it’s obviously a big disappointment. And then if we win today, it’s probably a very, very big achievement. So it felt like we almost did what was expected,” Gio Reyna said after the U.S.’s exit.
