Jim Alexander: Has the World Cup exceeded our expectations?

A columnist assessing the U.S. men’s World Cup run argues expectations have shifted since the tournament began in North America for its 39-day schedule. The piece notes that before play, the U.S. was seen as a side with limited upside in a field of 48 teams, a format created to deliver more games and money under FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s vision. It highlights the U.S. team’s progress after group-stage wins over Paraguay and Australia, setting up the round of 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, following a 3-2 loss to Türkiye at SoFi Stadium that ended in stoppage time. The author frames the key question as whether the coach, Mauricio Pochettino, has built enough belief, while comparing the run to past U.S. World Cup results.