The house is over for the US, and the onerous questions begin earlier than the frustration can fade.
in Seattle on Monday, 4-1 within the spherical of 16. It was the identical wall the Individuals hold slamming into, solely this time it got here at residence, in a match that was supposed to vary soccer historical past. As an alternative, they fell flat.
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The most important query is who leads this staff out of the frustration.
Mauricio Pochettino’s future is unsettled. A number of studies earlier than the match mentioned U.S. Soccer had provided Pochettino a contract extension by 2030, however each side opted to attend till the run ended to resolve.
That second is right here quicker than they hoped.
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Luka Modric #10 of Croatia and teammates react after the 1-2 loss in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Spherical of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia at Toronto Stadium on July 2, 2026 in Toronto.
(Mattia Ozbot, Getty Pictures)
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Luka Modric #10 of Croatia and teammates react after the 1-2 loss in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Spherical of 32 match between Portugal and Croatia at Toronto Stadium on July 2, 2026 in Toronto.
(Mattia Ozbot, Getty Pictures)
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Derrick Luckassen #23 of Ghana reacts after the 0-1 loss in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Spherical of 32 match between Colombia and Ghana at Kansas Metropolis Stadium on July 03, 2026 in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri.
(David Ramos, Getty Pictures)
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Vozinha #1 and Kevin Pina #6 of Cabo Verde react after the 2-3 loss in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Spherical of 32 match between Argentina and Cabo Verde, on July 3, 2026 in Miami.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Pictures)
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Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Kerim Alajbegovic seems to be dejected after the match as Bosnia and Herzegovina are eradicated from the World Cup.
(David Gonzales, IMAGN IMAGES by way of Reuters)
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Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Kerim Alajbegovic seems to be dejected after the match as Bosnia and Herzegovina are eradicated from the World Cup.
(David Gonzales, IMAGN IMAGES by way of Reuters)
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Pathe Ciss #6 of Senegal is consoled by Amadou Onana #24 of Belgium after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Spherical Of 32 match between Belgium and Senegal at Seattle Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Seattle.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Pictures)
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Gamers of England have fun the staff’s 2-1 victory whereas Fiston Mayele #19 of Congo DR reveals dejection after the FIFA World Cup 2026 Spherical Of 32 match between England and Congo DR at Atlanta Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Pictures)
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Cedric Bakambu #17 of Congo DR reacts after the staff’s 1-2 defeat within the FIFA World Cup 2026 Spherical Of 32 match between England and Congo DR at Atlanta Stadium on July 1, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.
(Megan Briggs, Getty Pictures)
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Sweden’s defender Gustaf Lagerbielke reacts after dropping the 2026 World Cup spherical of 32 soccer match between France and Sweden on the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 30, 2026.
(JEWEL SAMAD, AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
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Viktor Gyokeres #17 of Sweden and teammates applaud followers after the 0-3 loss in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Spherical Of 32 match between France and Sweden at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 30, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
(Buda Mendes, Getty Pictures)
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Amad Diallo #15 of Cote d’Ivoire reacts after the 1-2 loss in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Spherical Of 32 match between Cote d’Ivoire and Norway at Dallas Stadium on June 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Pictures)
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Patrick Berg #6 of Norway celebrates after the 2-1 win as Yahia Fofana #1 of Cote d’Ivoire reacts in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Spherical Of 32 match between Cote d’Ivoire and Norway at Dallas Stadium on June 30, 2026 in Arlington, Texas.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Pictures)
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(From L) Netherlands’ defender #02 Lutsharel Geertruida, midfielder #26 Quinten Timber and midfielder #14 Tijjani Reijnders react after dropping within the shootout in the course of the 2026 World Cup spherical of 32 soccer match between the Netherlands and Morocco on the Monterrey Stadium in Guadalupe on June 29, 2026.
(CARL DE SOUZA, AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
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Germany’s ahead #07 Kai Havertz reacts after dropping the penalty shootout of the 2026 World Cup spherical of 32 soccer match between Germany and Paraguay on the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026.
(CHARLY TRIBALLEAU, AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
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Germany’s defender #05 Aleksandar Pavlovic and defender #18 Nathaniel Brown react after dropping the penalty shootout of the 2026 World Cup spherical of 32 soccer match between Germany and Paraguay on the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026.
(ODD ANDERSEN, AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
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Germany’s midfielder #20 Nadiem Amiri reacts after dropping the penalty shootout of the 2026 World Cup spherical of 32 soccer match between Germany and Paraguay on the Boston Stadium in Foxborough on June 29, 2026.
(JEWEL SAMAD, AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
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A Germany fan reacts after the penalty shootout loss in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Spherical Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Michael Reaves, Getty Pictures)
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Kai Havertz #7 of Germany reacts after the penalty shootout loss in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Spherical Of 32 match between Germany and Paraguay at Boston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
(Robert Cianflone, Getty Pictures)
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A Japan fan reacts after the 1-2 loss in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Spherical Of 32 match between Brazil and Japan at Houston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Pictures)
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Daizen Maeda #11, Shuto Machino #6 and Yuto Nagatomo #5 of Japan react after the 1-2 loss in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Spherical Of 32 match between Brazil and Japan at Houston Stadium on June 29, 2026 in Houston, Texas.
(Alex Slitz, Getty Pictures)
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South Africa’s ahead #07 Oswin Appollis reacts after dropping the 2026 World Cup spherical of 32 soccer match between South Africa and Canada on the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 28, 2026.
(ETIENNE LAURENT, AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
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Ronwen Williams #1 and Khuliso Mudau #20 of South Africa look dejected after the staff’s defeat and their aspect’s elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after the Spherical Of 32 match between South Africa and Canada at Los Angeles Stadium on June 28, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Pictures)
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Khuliso Mudau #20 of South Africa seems to be dejected after the staff’s defeat and his aspect’s elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after the Spherical Of 32 match between South Africa and Canada at Los Angeles Stadium on June 28, 2026 in Inglewood, Calif.
(Emilee Chinn, Getty Pictures)
Pochettino, 54, has mentioned he needs to remain, and U.S. Soccer chief govt J.T. Batson has made no secret of wanting him again with the younger core intact. However the former Tottenham, and supervisor retains drawing membership curiosity, , and his national-team wage of about $6 million a yr is a fraction of what golf equipment would pay. It is a actual choice, not a formality, and it ought to come quickly.
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Whoever takes the job is not going to be busy instantly. The U.S. at the moment has no matches introduced earlier than the September FIFA window. That offers the federation time to reset and to see which veterans transfer on. is 38 and close to the top. , 27, together with youthful gamers in , n, and , is a gaggle that may carry it ahead.
Internet hosting this World Cup got here with an automated bye. For 2030 in , and , the Individuals should qualify by CONCACAF, one thing they haven’t needed to grind by since 2022. The 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles provide another residence stage earlier than they must deal with the subsequent World Cup on the street.
The house match was meant to be the turning level for U.S. males’s soccer. It became yet one more disappointment. The lastly cleared a hurdle it had not touched in additional than 20 years by profitable a knockout sport, then fell flat. The approaching 4 years will resolve whether or not this was a foundational second, or simply one other close to miss.