In what many considered the biggest USMNT match in history, the Americans simply fell apart, eventually losing 4-1 to Belgium in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16.<\/p>\n
In retrospect, it might have been smart to predict that the U.S. wasn\u2019t likely to go much further than this point; the hype and excitement around this squad, coupled with a home-field advantage, led to a massive sense of disappointment.<\/p>\n
That disappointment wasn\u2019t just for fans, but also for those who cover U.S. soccer for a living.<\/p>\n
Fox Sports analyst Carli Lloyd, who knows a thing or two about what it takes to win a World Cup, didn\u2019t pull any punches following the match, saying that it felt like the American side lost the game before it even began.<\/p>\n
\n\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f @CarliLloyd<\/a> shares her thoughts after the USA exited the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the Round of 16 pic.twitter.com\/AiXMZCNn9P<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 7, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a bit of a downer for us being out here now after this loss, but I felt like they lost the game before they even stepped out onto the pitch,\u201d said Lloyd. \u201cI\u2019m not sure why, and I don\u2019t know the reasons, but just from the beginning, just chasing, tentative, scared, just not confident on the ball. And I think big-time players\u2014 you wanted some of those big-time players to step up in big moments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lloyd then zeroed in on one big-time player in particular, saying she was especially disappointed in Christian Pulisic, who failed to be a difference-maker before he was removed in the 59th minute due to an injury<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\u201cI gotta be honest, I was a bit disappointed with Christian Pulisic,\u201d she continued. \u201cI think whether he wants to be the star of this team or not, we didn\u2019t see enough from him in this particular game and really the whole World Cup. Little glimpses here and there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lloyd did note that it was a great World Cup for the U.S., which won its group and reached the Round of 16 for only the second time, even if it all came crashing down in the end.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a bright future, but this is just a real disappointing loss to go out on,\u201d she ended.<\/p>\n
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