​It was a challenging night for the United States men’s national team as they exited the 2026 World Cup in the round of 16. The expanded format allowed the U.S. to claim their first knockout win since 2002, but they were eliminated in the same round they fell in during the 2022 edition. U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino had hoped to become the first coach to guide the U.S. to a quarterfinal since Bruce Arena in 2002, yet he oversaw a 4-1 defeat as Belgium comfortably knocked the Stars and Stripes out of the tournament they were hosting.
There were bright spots Monday, though some players’ stocks fell. Here are the winners and losers from the elimination game. Belgium’s triumph felt justified, not only for the revenge narrative but also because the team carried forward the momentum from a late surge against Senegal in the round of 32 and finally looked like the squad they’d intended to be all along.
Tillman had already delivered a strong World Cup, and his 31st-minute free-kick goal appeared to ignite a U.S. comeback. Instead, the Americans conceded immediately, and the blame did not fall on Tillman, who also linked well in build-up play. Increasing the volume of chances created will be the next step, but after emerging prominently at the 2025 Gold Cup, Tillman surpassed expectations this summer. At 24, he figures to be central in the next cycle.
The Pacific Northwest has long been a soccer-loving region, especially at MLS venues, yet the U.S. national team rarely visits Seattle or Portland for various reasons. The crowd at Lumen Field did what it could, lifting the team at every key moment and turning out a loud, patriotic show for the second time in this tournament. With U.S. Soccer securing a gleaming new headquarters in the Atlanta area, there may be fewer opportunities to play on the Pacific coast, but this summer the region rose to the occasion.
Dest, who took a nap on the opening goal, was slow to react on the second goal as well, appearing detached from the match and leaving him benched at halftime. It proved to be a roller-coaster tournament for Dest, who contributes aggressively going forward but must also provide solidity defensively to retain his spot. The life of a goalkeeper is such that you are judged on the decisive moments, and this outing underscored that reality.