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American Fans React to U.S. Exit From World Cup
The Hollywood Reporter • • general
Key Points:
- The U.S. Men's National Team was eliminated in the Round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup after a heavy defeat to Belgium, ending hopes of reaching the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.
- Belgium, ranked 8th globally and with a more valuable squad featuring top-tier players like Kevin De Bruyne, was favored to win against the U.S., ranked 16th with less star power.
- The U.S. team's performance was widely criticized by former players and commentators, with Carli Lloyd and Alexi Lalas expressing disappointment in the lack of confidence and big-game impact, especially from star player Christian Pulisic.
- Social media and public figures, including Barstool's Dave Portnoy and Bill Simmons, harshly criticized the team's quality and readiness for top-level international competition, dismissing external factors like the Balogun suspension controversy as irrelevant to the poor performance.
- Despite the early exit and negative reactions, broadcasters urged fans to continue supporting soccer and enjoy the World Cup, emphasizing the sport's beauty beyond the U.S. team's failure.
