# Fans, pundits have harsh words as U.S. exits World Cup after dismal performance, controversy > Source: > Published: 2026-07-07 18:34:37+00:00 **Getting your** [Trinity Audio](//trinityaudio.ai)player ready...The USA’s World Cup run is over. [A disappointing 4-1 loss to Belgium](https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/07/06/usmnt-vs-belgium/) in the Round of 16 on home soil on Monday night sent the Americans out of the tournament. And the team’s dismal performance during the match drew heavy criticism after the final whistle blew in Seattle. “They lost the game before they even stepped out onto the pitch, and I’m not sure why, and I don’t know the reasons, but just from the beginning, just chasing, tentative, scared, just not confident on the ball. You wanted some of those big-time players to step up in big moments,” said two-time women’s World Cup winner and Fox Sports pundit Carli Lloyd. “And I’ve got to be honest, I was a bit disappointed with Christian Pulisic. Whether he wants to be the star of this team or not we didn’t see enough from him in this particular game and really the whole World Cup. Little glimpses here and there.” Pulisic ended his World Cup campaign with no goals and just one assist. He failed to contribute in Monday’s loss — Malik Tillman’s free kick in the 31st minute served as Team USA’s lone goal — before being subbed off in the 59th minute after re-aggravating an ankle injury that hampered him leading up to this tournament. The forward known as “Captain America” appeared visibly upset in the moments after being subbed off and he earned plenty of social media criticism, but plenty of Monday’s anger was centered around American forward[ Folarin Balogun’s participation in the game.](https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/07/06/trump-us-world-cup-red-card-folarin-balogun/) Balogun initially was set to miss the game after receiving a red card following a VAR review in a win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Round of 32. In a shocking twist on Sunday, FIFA ruled to suspend the red card and delay the star striker’s one-game ban for a one-year probationary period. In any other instance at this World Cup, a straight red card disqualifies a player from the next match. President Trump confirmed he asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to take a second look at Balogun’s red card which worsened the controversy going into the match. Although Infantino denied Trump’s call had any impact on the ruling, members of the European Parliament slammed the decision. “Once again, we’ve seen Infantino and FIFA surrender to the demands of the Trump administration,” the statement by three lawmakers said. They called the move “a disgrace and a perversion of justice.” Balogun, who scored a goal in the Round of 32 match against Bosnia and netted two in a group stage opener over Paraguay, had three attempts (no goals) in Monday’s loss to Belgium. Belgium got two goals from Charles De Ketelaere, one from Hans Vanaken, and then from late sub Romelu Lukaku in the dying minutes. Right after Lukaku’s final dagger, the Belgian men’s national team social media account trolled the decision. “Overturn this,” [the account posted on social media](https://x.com/BelRedDevils/status/2074315204704240101). Lukaku himself appeared to take a jab at Trump by doing the president’s infamous rally dance with his teammates after his goal. The dance-trolling continued in the locker room. Despite the public outcry at FIFA’s head-scratching decision, Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia said it wasn’t Balogun’s fault. “He came to talk to me. I really liked that,” Garcia said through a translator. “It is not his fault; he is not the one to blame — that’s what I told him. I really appreciate the intention that he came to see me. I appreciate this player.” Still, the U.S. run is over in humiliating fashion after been outclassed on the field and trolled off of it. “My first thought is they [USMNT] played a better team, and they [Belgium] are a better team. When you look at the paper also and the game,” soccer superstar Zlatan Ibrahimović, another Fox voice, said of on the USMNT’s performance. “I think this was their worst game that the U.S. played, but they also faced a proper opponent. … “I also think this was a little bit of a reality check for the U.S.”