July 7, 2026 - Belgium Bounces USMNT From World Cup

It's over. Team USA is out of the World Cup - beaten by Belgium, 4-1, Monday night in Seattle.

The score suggests a rout. It wasn't. Midway through the second half, trailing 2-1, the Americans were still in it. Then came ten seconds of calamity: goalkeeper Matt Freese ventured out of his box, chested down a long ball, hesitated - and Belgium pounced. Hans Vanaken curled a shot into the empty net. 3-1. Give the Episcopal Academy grad credit for owning it. He stood at his locker and said: "This moment hurts more than probably any other moment in my life." A late fourth sealed it.

And Flo Balogun, the man at the center of the weekend's drama? U.S. fans gave him the loudest ovation of any player. Belgian fans waved red cards. Then: no goals, three shots. Belgium's account posted a photo of Romelu Lukaku afterward with two words: "Overturn this."

My position hasn't changed. Balogun never deserved that red card. But President Trump should not have called Gianni Infantino, and FIFA should not have caved. 3 wrongs.

Here's my confession: I rooted for Team USA Monday night - and I was uneasy about the prospect of their winning. A victory built on Balogun would have carried an asterisk in the court of world opinion. And something larger is at stake than the Cup. It's the flawless job America has done hosting. It's our hospitality. It's the countless visitors leaving with a better impression of this country than the one they arrived with. This World Cup is an opportunity to transcend Trump.

So I was disappointed Monday night. And somehow, still satisfied. Team USA lost the match. America is winning the tournament.

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The United States' 2026 World Cup run came to an end with a 4-1 round-of-16 loss to Belgium, extending the USMNT's streak of four straight tournament exits in the Round of 16 despite reaching the knockout stage with its first World Cup elimination-round win since 2002.

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