The United States men’s national team were embarrassed in their 4-1 World Cup quarter-final defeat to Belgium.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side won three games at the tournament, more than any other US World Cup team, but many believe it was all for nothing.
Having beaten Paraguay, Australia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, the USMNT were thrashed by the first top 20 team they faced.
It was a disappointing end to an exciting World Cup campaign, which left many American supporters feeling dejected.
Dave Portnoy had already been one of the biggest critics of the USMNT following their World Cup exit, but he has just taken his criticism to another level.
Dave Portnoy believes the USMNT ‘set soccer back 100 years’ at the World Cup
It is fair to say that many American fans got carried away during the World Cup and placed unrealistic expectations on the USMNT.
Some even suggested that Pochettino’s team could go all the way and win the tournament for the first time in their history.
Portnoy was one of those fans who backed the USMNT to achieve greatness before their humiliating defeat to Belgium.
He has since taken his disappointment out on the players, calling out their “pathetic performance” in the Round of 16.
Portnoy even suggested that their World Cup exit has “set soccer back” a century after letting the country down so badly.
“There are no wins for the US team,” he said. “They embarrassed the country. They embarrassed me. They embarrassed everybody who stuck their necks out for them.
“They didn’t just lose; they looked like they had never played the game before. The stage was too big; the lights were too bright.
“They had no defense. The goalie looked like a deer on ice. It was the most pathetic performance I’ve ever seen that I threw my support behind.
“They set back soccer close to 100 years. That’s what they did. Everything about this game was disgusting.”
Portnoy’s criticism was probably too harsh, but the 2026 World Cup will be remembered as an enormous missed opportunity.
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