The USMNT's World Cup run changed everything -- except the ending

The USMNT's World Cup run changed everything -- except the ending captures the contrast felt by the U.S. team and supporters at Lumen Field on Monday evening after a 4-1 round-of-16 loss to Belgium. The article describes deep disappointment alongside memories of a strong month, when the Americans won in a way that energized the nation. Players and staff reflected on what went wrong: Antonee Robinson said it was unlike other performances this summer and he struggled to pinpoint the cause, while goalkeeper Matt Freese and coach Mauricio Pochettino pointed to errors and an inability to match Belgium’s level. Folarin Balogun described the tournament’s broader impact as uniting the country and introducing more people to the sport. The U.S. had reached the knockout stage by beating Mexico in South Korea, but again exited at the same stage as in 1994, 2010, 2014, and 2022.