The States' World Cup dreams came crashing down on Monday evening as they suffered a 4-1 hammering at the hands of Belgium in the last 16. This brutal exit marks the same stage of elimination as their previous three World Cup appearances, leaving a host of questions about a team that had previously shown glimpses of brilliance.
The big build-up to this match centred around Folarin Balogun's red card from an earlier game being overturned – a decision some described as 'Trump-driven reinstatement'. His inclusion in the starting XI was eagerly anticipated, but it was Belgium's manager, Rudi Garcia, who had his own plan. He surprisingly left out star players Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku, opting for Nicolas Raskin as central playmaker and Dodi Lukébakio on the wing – a player who had previously tormented the US with two goals in a March friendly.
Belgium asserted their dominance from the off. An early warning sign came in the eighth minute when Amadou Onana set up Lukébakio, whose cross was scuffed by Youri Tielemans. The breakthrough arrived soon after. A long ball from the back found Leandro Trossard, whose deflected pass was expertly controlled by Raskin. His first touch bounced the ball past several US defenders, leaving Charles De Ketelaere with a simple finish to open the scoring. This goal sent shockwaves through the large contingent of US fans in attendance.
The US struggled to respond, with several key players underperforming. Weston McKennie, usually a reliable presence, made loose touches and misplaced passes, while Christian Pulisic was frequently dispossessed. Defender Chris Richards narrowly avoided gifting De Ketelaere a second goal, requiring desperate defending to prevent further damage. But in a moment of magic, Malik Tillman managed to find an equaliser from seemingly nowhere, with Balogun playing a crucial role in winning a free-kick on the edge of the area.
Following the match, US coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed his disappointment, stating, "From the beginning, we didn't connect with the game. Even when we scored the goal, we conceded the next action. Congratulations Belgium, they were better than us. We didn't show what this team can show." The sentiment reflected a performance that lacked the quality and ingenuity seen in earlier group-stage matches.