​SEATTLE — The United States men’s national team offered its gratitude to the country while also making a request in the days following their World Cup elimination. In a social media post released the day after the defeat to Belgium in the round of 16, the USMNT reminded fans that their support accompanied the team on the field, carrying them through the tournament’s pivotal moments.
“You filled stadiums, you brought the game into your homes, bars, parks and communities across the country,” the post, dated Tuesday, July 7, read. “Wearing the crest is a privilege, and hearing your voices throughout the tournament is something we will never forget.” This marks only the second time the United States has hosted the men’s World Cup, and U.S. Soccer is counting on renewed interest in the game sparked by the event to sustain momentum in the sport’s growth. While it remains early to gauge the long-term impact, the country clearly turned out in force for the USMNT, with numbers suggesting a surge in enthusiasm.
Fox reported a record audience of about 30 million viewers for the Belgium match on Monday, July 6. The familiar red-and-white stripes became a summer staple for many fans, and the tune of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” enjoyed a surprising resurgence in popularity. Yet on the field, the result was disappointing: the round-of-16 exit mirrored the team’s fate in previous appearances and came in a performance that overwhelmed the Americans against Belgium.
“We’ll learn from this,” the team stated in their post. “We’ll get better to compete with the world’s best. And we’ll keep doing the work because that’s what this team and this country expects of us.” The USMNT also called on Americans to stay engaged with the sport, promising more opportunities to participate and play. That directive echoed a message from captain Tim Ream after the game.
“We knew what kind of impact we would be able to have as long as we played well and the performances were there and we were winning games. Obviously that all comes to a halt now, but I don’t think the conversation changes,” Ream said. “I’m sure people will say, ‘Oh, it now is going to die down.’ But if you look at what we’ve done, I don’t think that the conversation should die down. I think it should be how incredible this journey has been with this group. How can we keep the conversation going? Those boys and girls … how can we continue to inspire them now that the tournament is over?”
The USMNT concluded their message with a nod to “Country Roads,” a song that had grown into the team’s anthem during the tournament: “Thank you for standing with us and for believing in this team. Thank you for believing in the future of soccer in this country,” the note read. “Country roads, take us home. We’ll see you there.” The appeal for continued engagement in the sport underscored the team’s hope that fans would remain involved as the country looks ahead to the next steps in its soccer journey.