McKennie and Tillman shine in ratings as Pulisic falters

McKennie and Tillman rated highest, Pulisic and Dest fall short

Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman were the bright spots. Christian Pulisic and Sergiño Dest were not. The Guardian's post-tournament ratings reflect what you saw: a talented squad that never clicked when it mattered (1). McKennie earned the highest marks for his engine and physical presence. Tillman's creativity stood out in limited minutes. Pulisic, the face of this golden generation, faded. Dest's defensive lapses in the Belgium loss hurt badly. The 4–1 scoreline told the story.

Sam Kerr returns to NWSL with Gotham FC

Sam Kerr is coming back. The Australian superstar signed with NJ/NY Gotham FC in the NWSL after seven years away, most recently at Chelsea (2). Gotham GM Yael Averbuch West called it "a landmark moment for our club" (2). Kerr arrives as the NWSL continues to pull elite global talent. She last played in the league for Sky Blue FC before moving to Europe.

Fan-reaktioner

The round of 16 exit to Belgium drew 30 million TV viewers, making it the most-watched non-NFL U.S. sports broadcast of the decade. The audience was there. The result was not. Fans are split between pride in the spectacle and frustration that a home World Cup ended so flat. Read the thread.