Belgium delivered one of the most vicious beatdowns that the United States has ever been subjected to at a FIFA World Cup last night and made sure to rub it in everyone's face - particularly President Donald Trump.
After Belgium's Romelu Lukaku put the final stamp on the game with a goal in stoppage time to make the score 4-1, he and his teammates celebrated by doing President Trump's signature two-fisted dance.
After the game, the Belgium national team took to X and poured even more salt on the wound, writing "Overturn this" - in clear reference to President Trump's reported influence over FIFA's decision to overturn a red card that star striker Folarin Balogun received the game before.
Crashing Out
For Belgium, the win secures their return to the quarterfinals for the second time in the last three World Cups. They will take on fellow European powerhouse Spain next.
As for the United States, the loss suddenly leaves the team - and U.S. soccer as a whole - at a bit of a crossroads. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino may or may not be back for the next World Cup cycle. There's reportedly mutual interest in getting something done, but who knows if they can get a deal over the finish line?
© Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images
Meanwhile, superstars for the last two World Cups like Christian Pulisic, Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson and Weston McKennie will all be over 30 by the next one. The team is now in desperate need of a new starting goalkeeper and several defenders.
Simply put, the loss to Belgium exposed a lot of holes and uncertainties that had largely been written off by the success of the last few weeks.
U.S. soccer has a lot of soul-searching to do. But the questions have been ever-present for a while now. The far bigger issue is whether this World Cup defeat motivates the powers that be to make changes that can prevent or mitigate future losses like this one.
