Portnoy Says USMNT Set Soccer Back 100 Years After 4-1 Belgium Rout

Q: The US won a record three games, so why does the 4-1 quarter-final loss feel like a national disaster?

It feels like a national disaster because the result was judged against the opportunity, not just the record. On paper, this was the best World Cup the U.S. men have had in terms of wins: three victories and a quarter-final appearance. But 2026 was not an ordinary tournament. The U.S. was playing at home, under a high-profile coach in Mauricio Pochettino, with a squad widely described as the program’s most talented ever. Early wins over Paraguay, Australia and Bosnia and Herzegovina fed the belief that this team could do more than merely compete. The problem is that Belgium exposed the gap that still exists between the U.S. and elite teams. The 4-1 scoreline was not a narrow defeat or a cruel exit; it was a comprehensive one. Defensive breakdowns, poor transition defending and uncertainty in goal turned a promising campaign into a harsh reminder that the U.S. still struggles when the opponent is top-20 quality. This was their first such test, and they failed it badly. That is why the loss feels bigger than one match. It punctured the idea that a golden generation, a celebrated coach and home advantage had finally pushed the U.S. into the sport’s top tier. It also revived deeper concerns about player development, especially whether the country’s expensive, fragmented youth system is producing enough world-class talent. So the disappointment is less about losing a quarter-final than about missing a rare chance to prove American men’s soccer had truly arrived.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jul 13

Dave Portnoy escalated his criticism of the United States after its 4-1 World Cup quarter-final loss to Belgium, calling the performance so poor it "set soccer back 100 years."
The Barstool founder said the team "embarrassed the country," arguing the stage was too big, the defense collapsed and the goalkeeper looked overwhelmed.
That backlash followed a tournament in which Mauricio Pochettino's side won 3 matches—more than any previous U.S. World Cup team—but was heavily beaten by the first top-20 opponent it faced.
The defeat punctured hopes that had swelled after wins over Paraguay, Australia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, turning what had looked like a breakthrough run into a missed opportunity.