This comment piece argues that the United States men's national team squandered a unique chance to win over new fans during the 2026 home World Cup, culminating in a dispiriting 4-1 last-16 defeat by Belgium. The author frames the tournament as a potential landmark for soccer in America — a moment to inspire a new generation of fans and children, much as the team's run to the 2002 quarter-finals did — but says the humbling loss delivered "total inadequacy" rather than triumph to a watching nation.

The writer notes that the USA had performed well earlier in the tournament, including a 4-1 win over Paraguay and a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last 32, but were tactically and technically outclassed by Belgium when it mattered most. The stakes were heightened by record television audiences: a US soccer broadcast record of around 31 million was set the previous week, with potentially tens of millions more tuning in for the Belgium match — many watching the national team for the first time. The author concludes that, rather than heralding a bright future, the tournament has left US soccer "right back where we were": strong against weaker sides but still unable to break through against elite opposition.