Sports media debates whether USMNT succeeded or disappointed the country

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Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Round of 16 - United States v Belgium - Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, U.S. - July 6, 2026 Christian Pulisic of the U.S. during the first half hydration break IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Troy Wayrynen

The USMNT looked like one of the best teams in the 2026 FIFA World Cup when it was at full strength during the group stages. The squad looked just as impressive in the round of 32 against Bosnia & Herzegovina, which it defeated 2-0 despite a gutsy second-half performance down a man, following a Folarin Balogun red card.

Unfortunately, things went about as badly as possible in the round of 16 against Belgium. After U.S. President Donald Trump meddled to have Balogun reinstated for the match, rather than serve the mandatory one-game suspension in the next match that typically comes with a red card. However, Balogun’s return did little to help the USMNT.

“World Cup was not a success for USMNT.”​

In a match where Belgium was clearly the better team from the start, the U.S. lost 4-1. After losing in disastrous fashion after such a promising start, sports media was torn on whether the USMNT should be proud or embarassed of its World Cup performance.

“No, the World Cup was not a success for USMNT. They were eliminated in the Round of 16 just like their last 3 trips to the World Cup. Pulisic removed himself from the superstar conversation. They won a knockout game, but it came with an expanded field. Massive disappointment,” Danny Perkins posted on X.

No, the World Cup was not a success for USMNT.

They were eliminated in the Round of 16 just like their last 3 trips to the World Cup.

Pulisic removed himself from the superstar conversation.

They won a knockout game but it came with an expanded field.

Massive dissapointment.

— Danny Parkins (@DannyParkins) July 7, 2026

“I don’t want to hear that the future is bright for American soccer. That they should be proud. That was a disgusting effort. We’re far closer to the bottom than the top. Just not a soccer country,” Dave Portnoy wrote.

I don’t want to hear that the future is bright for American soccer. That they should be proud. That was a disgusting effort. We’re far closer to the bottom than the top. Just not a soccer country

— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) July 7, 2026

“Just want to thank the USMNT”​

Others took a more positive approach.

“Thank you for this ride and taking people like me (know very little about the game) to look forward to each match and listening and learning along the way,” wrote Kirk Herbstreit.

Man just want to thank the @USMNT for the way they represented the our country throughout the World Cup!
Not just with your play but how you handled yourselves before-during-and after the matches. Know it didn’t end the way you’d hoped but that’s sports-important thing is YOU… pic.twitter.com/7TJYZ1pgre

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) July 7, 2026

Thank you USMNT: thank you for letting us dream, thank you for your relentless fight and thank you for everything you gave on the pitch!

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Sports can be brutal, even to the world’s very best. Absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.

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@FOXSports) pic.twitter.com/bL4UUrTOou

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) July 7, 2026

Hopefully, the U.S. is able to build on what it flashed during the opening stages of the tournament and make an even deeper run in 2030.

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