Sleepless in Seattle – US Gets Pounded 4-1 by Belgium in Round of 16
Wow I am going to admit I did not expect to see what we so painfully watched in Seattle. We didn’t get beat we got slaughtered at home. An unbelievable march of over 5,000 followed the beating drums of the American Outlaws thru the streets of downtown Seattle on way to the stadium – a stadium where the US had never lost. a Full house of over 70K cheered and sang but just 40 seconds in Belgium had a great shot turned back by Freese. Six minutes later Belgium’s Raskin brought it down the left wing crossed and youngster Charles de Keteraere overpowered Capt Tim Ream to start the onslaught. The US answered with this magical freekick by Malik Tillman that wrong footed the world’s best Goalkeeper Courtois, only to have the same thing happen 2 minutes later as Belgium again came down the wing crossed and the same guy de Ketelaere embarrased our Capt Ream again as he lept over him for the 2nd goal. The US pushed and had more possession as they pushed for the 2nd half equalizer but still could barely get a shot on goal. Belgium literally intercepted every single pass we made in the middle of the field – Pulisic gave up the ball a record 15 times in the first half alone as the US could barely string 3 passes together once in the final half of the field. Still there was hope just 1 goal down until Tim Ream and Freese had a middle school moment as Freese tried to control a long pass out of the box and had is stripped from him outside the box. A bumbling Ream let his man by to steal from Freese then let the ball roll right past him as he tripped on himself and watched it roll into the goal ending any chance the US had of a winning in the 57th minute. The US was outshot 15-7, 7-2 shots on goal, &
Before the tournament started I said that the round of 16 would be a good World Cup for the United States and the round of 8 would be a great World Cup for the United States. It turns out I was right about that.
I am disappointed because this team made me believe they were capable of more than the typical round of 16 finish. When they blew out Paraguay, (the best I have ever seen us look) beat Australia with ease, and their backups tied with Turkey into the 98th minute- I thought this team was different. When Balogun got a red card, and they responded by not only holding Bosnia Herzegovina scoreless, but getting another goal, I thought this team was different. They scored 10 goals. The United States never scores 10 goals in a World Cup. Yes the group stage teams were weaker this time, but other countries had weaker group stage opponents as well and most didn’t score as many goals as the United States. I was super excited and it turns out overconfident.
Then they had their first test against an elite team, a team in the top 10 – they not only failed – the got embarrassed. They didn’t execute well and they made mistakes they normally don’t make. In fairness, Belgium had a lot to do with that. They are an elite team and they forced some of those mistakes.
I would say overall this World Cup was bittersweet as a Team USA fan. I definitely think they have made a lot of progress compared to 4 years ago and I think Pochettino should be retained if he wants to return for 2 years until the Copa America. It is also obvious that the USA has a long way to go before they will be an elite team. Will they ever get there? I don’t know. Our nation’s best athletes still play Football and Basketball over Soccer. I do think it is possible, but it is going to take 7 or 8 players with the talent level of Malik Tillman and Folarin Balogun, Pulisic & McKinney & Adams and a much better defense. Chris Richards held down the fort well – but I told you Tim Ream would cost us come the Round of 16 when we would have to play a better team and he was absolutely exposed. (I love Tim Ream – have his Fulham jersey in my closet) but he’s 38 and runs like he’s 45. We had to get Trusty in there earlier each game to get him ready come Sweet 16 time. Instead Poch gave him the Captain’s band forcing the start each game with Ream. And he paid him back by letting the backup Belgium forward school him twice in front of goal – before being involved in that Farce with Freese for the 3rd goal. Ream and Freese combined – led to a horrific mistake and just poor all-around Goalkeeping & Defending.
Let’s be honest Pulisic is never healthy and he is NOT Captain America – he’s no longer even our best player as McKinney & Adams are both better at their positions that Pulisic is. He is inconsistent and he is injury prone and honestly he should probably be a super sub in the future because he can’t go 90. Balogun, Tillman, Freeman along with Adams, McKinney, Dest are the future of this team.
Down to 8 – The Quarterfinals
The Magical Ole Ballcoach Tour across the West with the US ended with a Wimper in Seattle
So its over – a little earlier than I thought – I truly thought I would be retuning to LA for 1 more game on Friday – a blowout loss to Spain in the Quarterfinals. Tying the best the US had ever done. But alas no – while the fans showed up -sold out 70K strong and the loudest and largest March to the Stadium by the American Outlaws ever. The team simply did not show up – playing by far their worst game of the World Cup. Us in San Fran
So many to thank on this wonderful – trek with the US team – first my daughter Courtney – who not only let me crash in her apartment for close to a month – but accompanied me all over this state to each and every game sometimes paying for them. 🙂 To her friends in LA who welcomed this old man on our forays around town to watch World Cup games where the fans were.
To our family Dee Dee and Daryl Beliel in Seattle who allowed us to crash at their place while driving us places all over town. To my wife Karen who put up with me being gone and spending all our money on this trip. To my Soccer buddy Bart who allowed us to buy his US supporter Tickets – since he was out of town on a cruise. Without you Bart – we don’t get 3 of the 5 tickets to games we went to. I owe you beers the rest of our lives! To the American Outlaws – who set up all the parties the night before and day of the games – providing the backbone of our support from game to game – city to city. You helped us find 2 tickets to Seattle when we had none just 1 day before gametime.
To all you US supporters who came along for the ride – I met so many people from across the country from Maine to North Carolina to Florida and Minn, Chicago, Texas, Kansas, and of course California and Seattle. You came across this great country of ours just like me – spending whatever it took to get in and support our team. To the guy who finally played Country Roads after our win in Seattle the 2nd game – I had been trying to get the Outlaw Marchers to sing both that song and Don’t Stop Believing on the way in — and to hear that song sung by 70K of my closest US fans – well its gonna bring tear’s to my eyes every time I hear it from now on. To Dan and Shey on the first game – who sang the National Anthem – so our fans could sing along – another time of extreme pride and tears in my eyes – as I held my AO Indy Scarf over my head while singing as loud as I could next to my daughter. These are all things I will never forget! We honestly fell one game short of what I thought we would – but still the experience was something I will never forget. The World Cup – what a sport, what fans, what excitement and fun. Perhaps see you in Brazil for the ladies in 2027. (Don’t let my wife see this).
TV Schedule
Thurs, July 9 Quarter Finals
4 pm Fox
Fri , July 10 Quarter Finals
3 pm Fox Belgium vs Spain
8 pm Prime Orlando Pride vs KC Current NWSL
8 pm HBO Max Racing Louisville vs Bay FC NWSL
Sat, July 11 Quarter Finals
5 pm Fox Norway (Erland) vs England (Kane)
6:30 pm Ion NC Courage vs Washington Spirit (Rodman)
7 pm ESPN+ Detroit City vs Indy 11
9 pm Fox Argentina (Messi) vs Switzerland
8:45 pm Ion San Diego Wave vs Angel City (Thompson)
Sun, July 12
4 pm ESPN Seattle Reign vs Portland Thornes
Tues , July 14 Semi – Finals
3 pm Fox Semi 1
Weds , July 15 Semi – Finals
3 pm Fox Semi 2
Sat, July 18
5 pm Fox 3rd place game
Sun, July 19
3 pm Fox WC FINAL
All games on Fox, FS1 & Telemundo
US Soccer
Should Mauricio Pochettino Continue as USMNT Head Coach for 2030?
USMNT vs. Belgium: What we learned – same question, different generation
Post Mortem: USMNT’s ugly 4-1 loss to Belgium ends World Cup mixed with good & bad
USMNT will look back at 2026 World Cup as a missed opportunity
Twellman: Team USA were ‘overwhelmed’ by the moment
USA crashes out of World Cup with Round of 16 loss to Belgium
USMNT vs. Belgium: Match Recap & Highlights
Injured Pulisic ‘disappointed in myself’ as WC ends
Poch mum on U.S. future, tells fans to keep faith
Poch ‘disappointed’ politics overshadowed WC
World Cup
Where would Argentina be if not for Messi? On a flight home from this World Cup
FIFA suspended 2 U.S. officials for Belgium game
Inside the ‘goalkeepers’ union,’ where mutual support is mandatory … until it isn’t
Belgium say beating U.S. ‘justice’ after ban U-turn
‘Overturn this’: Belgium troll U.S. after dominant round-of-16 victory
U.S. loss sets betting records; big profits for house
U.S. men, women get equal split of $16M WC prize
World Cup
Marcotti’s Mini World Cup Musings: Messi is supernatural, U.S. get a reality check
Meet your World Cup quarterfinalists! How they got here, top players, best moments, predictions, odds
If not for Messi, Argentina would surely be out of this World Cup
Argentina pull off one of greatest World Cup comebacks ever to avoid massive upset
No team in World Cup history has done what Argentina did in rally past Egypt
2026 World Cup Golden Boot tracker: Will Messi, Mbappé, or other score most goals?
Pay-to-play youth soccer explains America’s World Cup losses
Argentina refused ‘to let Messi down’ in epic comeback
Bieber added as co-headliner to WC Final halftime show with Madonna, Shakira, BTS
Reffing
Egypt vs Argentina calls
Egypt call was not missed
Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois admitted that they used the disrespect they felt by Americans as fuel before the game. And he also said Senegal are a better team than the USMNT. After everything that went on in the last couple of days, Belgium came out firing from the opening whistle last night. They also did the U.S. President Donald Trump’s dance both on the pitch and in the dressing room after the game. “The kind of disrespect we received in recent days — that’s no longer the same team,” Courtois said about Belgium. “We proved that we’re still a good team and that you can never take anything for granted at a World Cup.
“Honestly, when I read those things [that Americans said], I just laughed a little. “I understand that people wanted to give a lot of publicity to the United States, but honestly, I felt much more certain that we were going to beat the U.S. than I did against Senegal, because Senegal is a better team. “And I think that was proven.”
Goalkeeping
NWSL action returns with Wave tea party, Sophia Wilson’s 50th goal, and Trinity Rodman late game-winner
Ally Sentnor, Kennedy Fuller, and Lily Reale also make debuts for their new clubs
WEEKEND RESULTS
Washington Spirit 2-1 Houston Dash
Denver Summit 0-3 Kansas City Current
Angel City FC 2-0 Orlando Pride
North Carolina Courage 3-1 Seattle Reign
San Diego Wave 2-0 Gotham FC
Boston Legacy 2-2 Bay FC
Chicago Stars 3-2 Utah Royals
Portland Thorns 4-0 Racing Louisville
FIRSTS
- Michelle Cooper scored her first NWSL brace to lead the Current to a win
- Bay’s Claire Hutton scored not only her first club goal but her first NWSL goal
- Kennedy Fuller (Bay FC), Ally Sentnor (Angel City FC), and Lily Reale (Boston Legacy FC) all made their club debuts after recent transfers
CELLY CORNER
San Diego’s Melanie Barcenas broke out a timeless celly in honor of the GOAT’s birthday. After scoring her third goal of the season, Mel B hit ‘em with a sip of tea à la Alex Morgan. Bottom’s up!
COMING UP…
Rivals Face Off
Is there anything better than a good rivalry? No, there isn’t.
NWSL Rivarly Week presented by Ally is coming up, and it’s a three match slate that will set the tone for the rest of the season.The first place San Diego Wave host Angel City FC for the next SoCal Derby It’s always fun when San Diego and Angel City face off, but with both coming off shutout wins, neither one will want to give up an inch of momentum. The Cascadia Rivalry returns to Seattle. The Thorns are coming off a stunning 4-0 win that got everyone involved while the Reign are had a tough go of it in North Carolina. It would be quite the statement to win at home against a bitter foe. Finally, Gotham FC and the Washington Spirit are set to make history at Citi Field on July 15 in a 2025 NWSL Championship rematch. With Gotham set to make the move to Queens in 2028, it’s a great way to kick off a new era.
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