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SEATTLE – There may be a graceful way to bow out of a FIFA World Cup, but the US Men’s National Team (USMNT) have yet to find it.

Their 2026 campaign came to a crushing halt on Monday evening in Seattle, as Belgium handed them a 4-1 defeat in the Round of 16 – a devastating contrast to the euphoria of their record-breaking run of three wins that had inspired a nation.

What hurt the most was how far they fell short of their usual standards against the world’s ninth-ranked team. The Americans simply didn’t look like themselves on the night.

“Today we didn’t show our true quality,” admitted head coach Mauricio Pochettino after the match. “We were never in sync with what the game demanded. Credit to Belgium – they were very good, as I said before, it’s a very good side. But we didn’t perform at our level.

“It’s true that we weren’t the same team that had shown quality earlier in the tournament. It was a bad day – just not our day, both collectively and individually. We have to accept that sometimes things like this happen, but in a World Cup, when it does, there’s no safety net, no second chance.”

For those who were part of the 2022 squad in Qatar, where the journey ended at the same stage with a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands, the pain was familiar – though this time, it cut deeper. Thousands of fans had flooded downtown Seattle hours before kickoff to back the team, believing this might finally be their year.

“It feels worse. Definitely worse than the last World Cup,” said Seattle Sounders FC’s Cristian Roldan. “We felt we had a great mix of talent, unity, and experience, so it’s tougher to go out like this, especially at home.

“But I think we captured America’s imagination. We caught the world’s attention with our style of play, and I hope people now see the US differently.”

While failing again to advance beyond the Round of 16 – as they have in the last four tournaments – leaves a sting, there’s still pride in how the team evolved and showcased new qualities to fans across the country and beyond.

“I truly believe it was a special tournament, an amazing experience for everyone involved,” said Columbus Crew wingback Max Arfsten.

“US football has progressed immensely, 1,000%. Even though we wanted more tonight, we should be proud of how we played in the earlier matches, and of the emotion and energy we got from our fans. Playing this World Cup at home was something extraordinary.”

World Cup exits always hurt more because there’s no “next season.” The four-year wait until the next tournament can feel eternal, and even the youngest players can’t be sure they’ll get another shot.

Life will move on for the USMNT, with CONCACAF qualification for the 2030 World Cup on the horizon. But one of the first questions now is whether Mauricio Pochettino will remain in charge.

The Argentine coach has reportedly been offered a contract extension by U.S. Soccer to lead the next cycle, though on Monday he wasn’t ready to discuss his future in detail.

“Right now, it’s time to rest a bit, to think and talk with the federation,” said Pochettino when asked about his plans. “I’m very happy here, we’ve built a strong relationship, but now isn’t the moment to decide. We’ll review the tournament and, in the coming weeks, if the federation wants to talk, we’ll talk.”

With a résumé that includes successful stints at Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, and Paris Saint-Germain, Pochettino will likely attract interest from major European clubs – and reports suggest he already has. Yet, his time with the USMNT appears to have struck a unique chord with him.

“The journey was incredible, with both good and challenging moments,” he reflected. “A process like this usually takes four years, a full cycle. Today we close that chapter, having evaluated players against top competition.

“Now we have a full assessment of many players, and if we stay, we know what decisions to make for the future. Earlier it was difficult – no official matches, no settled mindset – all those factors made it hard to manage.”

Several players spoke with deep appreciation for what Pochettino has brought to the team and expressed their hope he continues his work.

“We’d all love for him to stay, but that’s not our call,” said Gio Reyna. “He was fully engaged – at training, in the hotel, everywhere. I think you could see the belief and performances he inspired in us. He truly took us to another level.

“He brought so many positives to the group. We can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done.”