Grading Every USMNT Showdown at the 2026 World Cup: Who Shined and Who Stumbled?

The U.S. men's national team entered the 2026 World Cup carrying enormous expectations, buoyed by home-field advantage and a favorable bracket. In the end, those hopes were shattered by a crushing 4–1 defeat to Belgium in the round of 16.

Still, it wasn't a complete washout for manager Mauricio Pochettino's squad. They flashed genuine promise during the group stage and demonstrated tactical flexibility in their round of 32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Several fringe players also rose to the occasion — all before the heartbreaking conclusion.

Here, Sports Illustrated ranks each of the USMNT's five World Cup outings this summer.

5. USMNT 1–4 Belgium | Round of 16

Nobody promised the World Cup would be a smooth ride. Sure, the USMNT benefited from a gentler path as hosts and Group D winners, but a clash with a heavyweight was always inevitable. That reckoning arrived against Belgium in the round of 16, as the Americans fell to a European side that had looked largely uninspiring through the group stage and round of 32.

The core problem wasn't Belgium's quality — it was the USMNT's absence of urgency, intensity, and tactical flexibility. Pochettino's side was overrun quickly, while talisman Christian Pulisic was far too ineffective to justify his place in the starting lineup.

Center backs Chris Richards and Tim Ream both endured torrid afternoons, and goalkeeper Matt Freese produced moments that will haunt supporters for years to come. Across the board, players fell well short of their capabilities.

After the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun's eligibility and a one-year red card ban that was ultimately overturned to allow the striker to feature, he managed just 9 touches in the opening half and ranked among the most underwhelming performers on the pitch.

It was a catastrophic exit in the team's most important match of the tournament and will be remembered as one of the greatest missed opportunities in U.S. Soccer history, with more than 50 million viewers watching.

4. USMNT 2–0 Australia | Group D

A 2–0 victory over one of the group's stronger sides might warrant a higher spot on this list. Nevertheless, it was a largely labored showing from most USMNT players, who were still reeling from Pulisic being sidelined with an injury suffered in the opening win over Paraguay.

Australia made life difficult from the outset, with towering 6'6" center back Harry Souttar providing a relentless physical test for Balogun, igniting flashpoints throughout the afternoon in Seattle. Australian boss Tony Popovic also opted for physically dominant selections over more technical players in a bid to stifle the USMNT — a strategy that largely paid off for much of the match.

It required an 11th-minute own goal to get the Americans moving, before Alex Freeman's dynamic display reached its peak just before halftime with his first World Cup strike. He wrapped up the day with a well-rounded outing — a goal, 11 defensive contributions, and seven passes into the final third — in what amounted to a gritty, unglamorous win.

Beyond Freeman, however, the performance was underwhelming. Neither Balogun nor Pepi made an impact in attack, and the switch to a two-striker setup while retaining the fluid back three and back five yielded less than anticipated. The Americans got the result, but the manner left much to be desired.

3. USMNT 2–3 Türkiye | Group D

If the USMNT needed reassurance that its squad depth is genuine, the encouraging display against Türkiye — despite a late collapse and defeat once more established players entered — should offer exactly that.

The game opened with set-piece success, as Auston Trusty converted a perfectly weighted delivery from Sebastian Berhalter, who then launched into one of the standout individual performances of the entire tournament. After delivering that corner, Berhalter struck from distance in the 49th minute and demonstrated his relentless work rate with 98 touches and 5 shots — both tournament highs for any player in the fixture.

While there were clear shortcomings, the performance illustrated that the USMNT had the confidence and creativity to generate chances, registering 18 shots and 2.18 xG. Notably, the top performers were all under 26, suggesting they could play a pivotal role heading into the 2030 World Cup cycle.

2. USMNT 2–0 Bosnia and Herzegovina | Round of 32

Credit the expanded 48-team World Cup format, but the USMNT finally snapped its knockout-stage winless streak, claiming a second-round victory for the first time since their quarterfinal run at the 2002 tournament. Though the round of 32 was a new addition, it produced one of the team's most complete performances.

Confronted by a deep defensive block and physical resistance from Bosnia, the USMNT adapted effectively — tightening possession through quick combinations in central channels before shifting the ball wide to exploit space. They successfully bypassed Bosnian defensive lines on the ground and steered clear of the Balkan side's aerial threat.

Operating in a 4-1-4-1 shape, Pochettino unlocked more from Tyler Adams in a single-pivot role. Meanwhile, Malik Tillman and Weston McKennie continued to supply Pulisic — back from injury — and Sergiño Dest with quality service to manufacture chances.

After Balogun was dismissed for a stamp on Tarik Muharemović, the USMNT responded well, tucking the wingbacks into a back five and managing the game intelligently to secure the win.

Enable functional cookies to see this feature.

1. USMNT 4–1 Paraguay | Group D

It all began so promisingly. Following an impressive 3–2 win over Senegal and a creditable 2–1 defeat to Germany in pre-tournament preparation, the USMNT appeared to hit peak form the moment the competition opened against Paraguay in Los Angeles.

While Paraguay represented the lowest-ranked team in Group D, Pochettino left nothing to chance in his preparation. The squad was as fit as it had been all cycle, and Pulisic forced an own goal and contributed an assist in a tormenting first-half display against Juan Cáceres before picking up an injury.

It also served as Balogun's breakout moment on the world stage, as he netted a crucial brace in his first-ever World Cup appearance. The midfield pairing of McKennie and Tillman combined for six chances created and six shots, instilling genuine confidence in the engine room.

The wave of optimism generated by this result elevated the USMNT's World Cup aspirations to extraordinary heights and captivated fans throughout North America.