What Went Wrong in The USMNT’s Disappointing World Cup Exit

And just like that, the US Men’s National Team is out of the 2026 World Cup.

The country became the third and final host to be eliminated by Belgium in the Round of 16. The USMNT entered as the betting favorite to win, but instead delivered a massively underwhelming 1-4 loss to their European rival. The loss ends what had been a magical run for the team, once again proving the team remains outside the world’s top tier.

Given the excitement and hope fans had heading into the match, we’re going back through the match to find out what went wrong for the USMNT.

Red Card Drama

The USMNT players continue to insist that the drama around Folarin Balogun didn’t cause a distraction, but their play told a different story.

It all started when Balogun picked up a controversial red card in the Round of 32. FIFA announced over the weekend that it was suspending the one-game ban that accompanies a red card, clearing him to play against Belgium. It was later revealed that US President Trump called FIFA to request a review, adding even more vitriol to the controversy over the decision.

The late change by FIFA means the USMNT had to readjust its strategy after practicing without their star. Add in the loud objections from international fans and teams, and it's easy to imagine the chaos in the US locker room in the 24 hours leading up to the match against Belgium.

Freese’s Baffling Blunder

The final score doesn’t show it, but the first half of the US-Belgium match had us expecting a close match. The US drew even at 1-1 in the 31st minute, but conceded a goal less than two minutes later. That led to a one-goal deficit at half, which seemed more than possible for the offense-heavy USMNT.

That feeling evaporated in the 57th minute after USMNT goalie Matt Freese made one of the most stunning errors of the 2026 World Cup. The 27-year-old misjudged a ball and was caught out of net. While he got to the ball outside the box, he hesitated, letting his foot stick in the ground instead of booting it. 

Belgium quickly gained control of the ball and scored on a wide-open goal to pull ahead 1-3. This destroyed the USMNT’s momentum and allowed their opponent to focus on defense. 

Pulisic Can’t Step Up

For years, the USMNT have watched Christian Pulisic rise through the ranks of pro football. He became the star for European powerhouse AC Milan, cementing himself as the most successful US pro player in history.

It was a great story that has brought excitement for the USMNT, but the midfielder hit a massive slump earlier this year. Fans hoped he was breaking out of it when he scored during an international friendly shortly before the World Cup, but that wasn’t the case.

After looking fantastic to start the USMNT’s opening match against Paraguay, he exited with a calf injury. That led him to miss the team’s second group match and only appear off the bench in its third. The rust showed against Bosnia in the Round of 32, but fans still hoped he could return to form against Belgium.

Instead, Pulisic delivered an ugly outing before exiting with injuries to his ankles and knees.