Balogun starts but USA thrashed 4–1 by Belgium and out of the World Cup

Ragged USA crash out, Belgium run riot 4–1

It ended in San Francisco, and it was not close. Belgium 4–1 United States on Monday, and your team is out of the World Cup at the round of 16 (2) (3) (6). A lifeless night when everything that could go wrong did. Folarin Balogun started after the red-card saga, but the lineup change counted for nothing (5). The scoreline tells the story cleanly enough, this was not a narrow exit, it was a thrashing.

Pochettino won't say if he stays

Mauricio Pochettino was asked directly about his future after the defeat. He dodged it. He told fans to keep faith but gave no clarity on whether he remains the head coach beyond this tournament (1). The question now sits over the program like a cloud.

Balogun started, and the Belgium protest came too

Balogun was named in the starting XI after FIFA's appeals committee ruled Belgium's challenge inadmissible (5) (9). President Trump confirmed he personally asked FIFA to review the suspension (9). Belgium's FA had threatened to take the eligibility fight to CAS if Balogun played (2). He played. Belgium won regardless.

The belief was real, and now it's gone

A Belgian insider reported before the match that the USMNT squad genuinely believed they could win the World Cup, a conviction stronger than at any point in program history (8). That belief collided with reality inside 90 minutes.

Fan reactions

The mood is grim, and much of the anger is aimed at FIFA rather than Belgium. Fans are pointing to the Balogun eligibility chaos as a humiliation that distracted from the match itself. One thread captured the absurdity: Belgium's FA formally contested Balogun's eligibility right up to kickoff, and FIFA's late ruling only deepened the sense of disarray. Read more on Reddit