SEATTLE—The U.S. national team came into this World Cup with every conceivable home advantage. The Americans enjoyed automatic qualification and a gentle group as co-hosts. They encountered raucous, star-spangled crowds wherever they went. And, when necessary, they could count on a game-changing assist from the Oval Office.
Even after presidential intervention helped the team’s top scorer back into the lineup, however, the U.S. couldn’t overcome its latest challenge on the field: the country of Belgium, the fifth-ranked team in Europe.
Copyright ©2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8