The USMNT’s run in the 2026 World Cup was a total rollercoaster, hitting insane highs and then bottoming out with a humiliating knockout round loss to Belgium right here in Seattle. It’s been almost two weeks since that final whistle, and honestly, it’s still tough to even wrap your head around such a Jekyll and Hyde performance from our guys.
From Group Dominance to a Gut Punch in the Emerald City
Our national team did so much stuff they’d never done before in this World Cup. They didn’t just play well, they *bossed* games, creating chances left and right. They notched three wins and even clinched first in their group after just two matches, which is wild. Think about it: in the modern era, across eight World Cups, they’d only managed to win a second game once, back in 2002. So yeah, they were cooking! We saw some great soccer in that 4-1 demolition of Paraguay and some incredible heart to survive a bogus red card against Folarin Balogun to snatch a 2-0 win against Bosnia. But then, the unthinkable happened. They did something else they’d never done: they got absolutely embarrassed in the knockout rounds. We’re not talking just a loss; it was a humiliation. And it all went down at home, with a wildly supportive crowd gathered in Seattle, watching it unfold. How can there be such a massive gap between those two extremes in such a short amount of time? It’s baffling.
VAR Chaos Is Ruining the Beautiful Game
And speaking of baffling, can we talk about VAR? The system is a mess, and it’s plain as day after this World Cup. In the quarterfinal match between Egypt and Argentina, Egypt had a goal wiped off the scoreboard in the 58th minute. Why? Because VAR flagged a foul that happened clear across the field, nearly 100 yards away from the net, during the buildup to the goal. Mostafa Zico put the ball in, giving Egypt a 2-0 lead that should have been, but it was snatched away. Egypt ended up losing the game. The rules say it’s allowed, but who cares what the rules say? Change them! VAR should be for offside calls, potential penalties, or clear red card offenses. Not some micro-foul that happened so far away the on-field ref and sideline assistant missed it completely. It just creates chaos. And then you watch Lionel Messi appear to step on England left back Djed Spence just 10 yards from goal before his game-winning cross to Lautaro Martinez in the semifinals, and there’s no obvious review? The inconsistency is maddening.
It was 39 days of soccer that left us with more questions than answers, especially for our guys. Moving forward, the USMNT has to figure out how to bottle up that early group stage magic and avoid another gut-wrenching exit. And for the sport itself, VAR needs a serious overhaul before it completely undermines the game we all love.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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