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The United States’ 2026 World Cup run ended with a disastrous showing against Belgium on July 6. The U.S. lost 4-1, and many things looked out of whack.
Goalie Matt Freese allowed four goals — all of which seemed to appear worse than the next. The U.S. leveled the game midway through the first half and immediately conceded again.
But looking past the ending, the U.S. made considerable strides in this tournament on home soil. It won a knockout-round game for the first time since 2002. It claimed first place in its group in dominant fashion. And it made U.S. citizens care about soccer again.
Here were the top five moments from the team's run at the 2026 World Cup:
Gio Reyna didn’t get much time to show his skills in this World Cup, but he received just enough to dazzle late in the second half against Paraguay.
With the U.S. leading 3-0 at the end of the first half, U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino decided to rest many of the starters. Paraguay scored to make it 3-1, but Reyna wasn’t about to let the advantage slip away.
Eight minutes into stoppage time, Reyna blasted a shot with the outside of his right foot into the top left corner of the net — curving around a defender blocking his view of the goal for the score. It was Reyna’s only goal of the tournament.
The United States set itself up for success following just two group stage matches. After beating Paraguay, 4-1, it blanked Australia, 2-0, which sealed its spot atop the group.
The last time the U.S. won its group was in 2010 in South Africa. This time, it didn’t even need a third game. Though it fell 3-2 to Türkiye in the final group match, that came with its B team on the pitch.
The game against Belgium wasn’t pretty, but the hot start set the country ablaze with patriotic fever and sparked its run to the Round of 16.
When the U.S. needed a goal in its last two matches, Malik Tillman provided some magic. Twice, the 24-year-old midfielder lined up to take a free kick, and twice, the ball found twine.
The first score came against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. The U.S. led 1-0 but needed some life after Folarin Balogun’s red card. Tillman took a free kick in the 82nd minute and floated it over Bosnia’s wall and past its diving keeper to double the Americans’ advantage.
Then, Tillman did it again to briefly give the U.S. life against Belgium. He was aided by an opposing deflection this time, but he leveled the score 1-1 in the 31st minute. Belgium squashed all the momentum by scoring a minute later, but Tillman’s brilliance should be an encouraging sign for the national team’s future.
Balogun was easily the team's best player in this World Cup amid Christian Pulisic's injury-riddled stint.
The 25-year old striker plays for Monaco in Ligue 1, and he made his name known in the first game. Balogun scored twice in the first half against Paraguay, first a screamer into the top corner, then a one-touch laser to the bottom right.
His brace set the tone for the United States' run, ensuring the Americans had control from the beginning and never relinquished it. Balogun led Team USA with three goals in the tournament amid his red card controversy.
The team's signature moment in the 2026 World Cup was enduring Balogun’s red card against Bosnia. Team USA had everything going right — it led 1-0 and looked to be in cruise control.
That’s until Balogun took a wrong step that landed on the back of Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic's foot in the 64th minute. It didn’t matter that Balogun’s suspension for the U.S.’ matchup with Belgium was eventually revoked, the squad had to make it there alive first.
And Team USA didn’t only survive, it did so while in the driver’s seat. Via Tillman’s free kick goal and another suffocating effort from its backline, the U.S. outscored Bosnia 1-0 while down a man and advanced to the Round of 16 with a 2-0 win.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: These are the top 5 United States soccer moments from 2026 World Cup
Continue reading...
Goalie Matt Freese allowed four goals — all of which seemed to appear worse than the next. The U.S. leveled the game midway through the first half and immediately conceded again.
But looking past the ending, the U.S. made considerable strides in this tournament on home soil. It won a knockout-round game for the first time since 2002. It claimed first place in its group in dominant fashion. And it made U.S. citizens care about soccer again.
Here were the top five moments from the team's run at the 2026 World Cup:
5. Gio Reyna nets sparkler vs. Paraguay
Gio Reyna didn’t get much time to show his skills in this World Cup, but he received just enough to dazzle late in the second half against Paraguay.
With the U.S. leading 3-0 at the end of the first half, U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino decided to rest many of the starters. Paraguay scored to make it 3-1, but Reyna wasn’t about to let the advantage slip away.
Eight minutes into stoppage time, Reyna blasted a shot with the outside of his right foot into the top left corner of the net — curving around a defender blocking his view of the goal for the score. It was Reyna’s only goal of the tournament.
4. U.S. clinches first in Group D after two games
The United States set itself up for success following just two group stage matches. After beating Paraguay, 4-1, it blanked Australia, 2-0, which sealed its spot atop the group.
The last time the U.S. won its group was in 2010 in South Africa. This time, it didn’t even need a third game. Though it fell 3-2 to Türkiye in the final group match, that came with its B team on the pitch.
The game against Belgium wasn’t pretty, but the hot start set the country ablaze with patriotic fever and sparked its run to the Round of 16.
3. Malik Tillman’s free kick brilliance
When the U.S. needed a goal in its last two matches, Malik Tillman provided some magic. Twice, the 24-year-old midfielder lined up to take a free kick, and twice, the ball found twine.
The first score came against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. The U.S. led 1-0 but needed some life after Folarin Balogun’s red card. Tillman took a free kick in the 82nd minute and floated it over Bosnia’s wall and past its diving keeper to double the Americans’ advantage.
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Then, Tillman did it again to briefly give the U.S. life against Belgium. He was aided by an opposing deflection this time, but he leveled the score 1-1 in the 31st minute. Belgium squashed all the momentum by scoring a minute later, but Tillman’s brilliance should be an encouraging sign for the national team’s future.
2. Balogun’s brace powers early 3-0 lead vs. Paraguay
Balogun was easily the team's best player in this World Cup amid Christian Pulisic's injury-riddled stint.
The 25-year old striker plays for Monaco in Ligue 1, and he made his name known in the first game. Balogun scored twice in the first half against Paraguay, first a screamer into the top corner, then a one-touch laser to the bottom right.
His brace set the tone for the United States' run, ensuring the Americans had control from the beginning and never relinquished it. Balogun led Team USA with three goals in the tournament amid his red card controversy.
1. U.S. survives Balogun’s red card to beat Bosnia
The team's signature moment in the 2026 World Cup was enduring Balogun’s red card against Bosnia. Team USA had everything going right — it led 1-0 and looked to be in cruise control.
That’s until Balogun took a wrong step that landed on the back of Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic's foot in the 64th minute. It didn’t matter that Balogun’s suspension for the U.S.’ matchup with Belgium was eventually revoked, the squad had to make it there alive first.
You must be registered for see images attach
And Team USA didn’t only survive, it did so while in the driver’s seat. Via Tillman’s free kick goal and another suffocating effort from its backline, the U.S. outscored Bosnia 1-0 while down a man and advanced to the Round of 16 with a 2-0 win.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: These are the top 5 United States soccer moments from 2026 World Cup
Continue reading...
