There are dozens of US counties w/ larger populations, their GK wasn't on a club roster, and their manager had never coached in another country.
Argentina was the de facto home team, while US is home tonight.
CV also tied Spain.
As soon as the big lights came on and the competition gets real, they look outclassed, play sloppy, then quit. The looks more like they want to keep the score somewhat respectable instead of actually win.
and it kind of felt like this. Like the whole season, as fun as it was, was just an illusion.
The rest of the team look like they are playing their first game on the international stage.
Belgium basically said they could beat us without their best players and they did.
He plays for a mid table club in the French Ligue 1, which is probably the 4th best league in Europe.
He looks good against CONCACAF level opposition.
Belgium is a better team.
“He looks good against CONCACAF level opposition“
He scored multiple goals against PSG last year. He had the longest goal scoring streak in the Big Five last year tied with Mbappe. With Reims he looked like one of the best young strikers in the world.
He isn’t a top 5 striker in the world, but he is pretty damn good. And I don’t think it’s fair to just label him as someone who just looks good against third rate competition like CONCACAF. Give him some better teammates and he would prove his abilities.
I think many here were expecting him to be Mbappe or Kane or Haaland.
He's not that.
Not the same class as those 3.
I can’t imagine how popular a player like Haaland would be if he was American.
One day we will get a real star. Hopefully this World Cup gets some 10 year old athletic studs to focus on soccer instead of the typical American sports.
They probably were hoping it would be tied by second hydration break and then they would bring in their former stars for 20/30 minutes
I’d argue that Lukaku isn’t one of their best players at this point. Nice finish tonight notwithstanding.
I stand by my belief that Belgium didn’t think they would easily win (though it ended up being that way ) so they rested their stars to better prepare for the next game.
Belgium has outscored US 8-3 thus far in 2026
Some nice moments but no real progress over the last 24 years (2002 quarterfinals vs Germany). We’re around a #15 program. Not close to the top tier. Can compete with teams 11-20. Nice rivalry with El Tri. Will typically beat teams below that tier.
Feels like BYU football level program, if we’re being honest.
That was ridiculous
That was not how I thought it would manifest though.
in coffin.
Like in every other big game he’s been part of.
He is not useless. He is a really good player
However, I do not think he is elite and I do think he is quite fragile
My best guess is that it will eventually come out that he was never close to 100% fit at any point during the tournament.
but he doesn’t appear to be one of the top 50-75 players in the world, and yet is the team captain to whom they seem so look too often for scoring. He has shown very little in this World Cup, and now it’s over.
The 36 year old defender who got dominated on the Belgium goal 2 header. Experience isn't necessarily a positive in sports.
Pulisic seems to dribble too much, taking on multiple defenders instead of playing a cooperative team game.
Too much standing around on defense on goal 1. Out-physicalled on goal 2. Colossal blunder on goal 3.
I fear for our next WC qualifying cycle without him.
in terms of a talent pool upon which to draw.
The pipeline is pretty fucking bare.
It’s not like Pochettino has other guys to choose from.
We simply don’t have as much talent in soccer as the top teams in Europe and South America.
And about 10 when he first came on vs Türkiye. Otherwise subpar.
Back to the drawing board.
Look at the contributions of the stars from other teams, then look at Pulisic’s productivity, or lack thereof. He can’t carry a team.
youngest ages, and whatever the governing body is, USSF, I don't recall at this point.
That this is the best that we can field from a country of this size should get the point through to everyone that things need to be burned to the ground then start over.
We will continue to get embarrassed against solid competition until this changes.
Good run, but underwhelming in the end.
Are we hoping Cavan Sullivan can be that guy?
The US development system is so far behind the rest of the world, it's almost impossible for us to have the same level of talent.
But he is a defender and might not even play for the US