The United States men's national team are at a crossroads after their 2026 World Cup campaign ended in a damaging 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the round of 16, a result that exposed deep vulnerabilities and left serious questions about the program's direction. The loss was shaped by more than just what happened on the pitch. Folarin Balogun's red card saga drew the team into a political storm when President Donald Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and Balogun's one-match suspension was subsequently overturned. Balogun himself admitted his teammates were visibly affected by the off-field noise, and the nerves showed in a performance that unravelled badly against the Belgians.

At the centre of everything now is the coaching question. Mauricio Pochettino's contract expires this summer, and while both he and U.S. Soccer have held talks about an extension, no decision has been made. Pochettino said last week that a resolution was expected soon, but the program is effectively operating without a confirmed head coach as it begins to assess what went wrong and what comes next. Names from Pellegrino Matarazzo to Pep Guardiola have been floated as potential candidates should the search open up.

Off the pitch, Balogun has signed with LeBron James' Klutch Sports agency after raising his profile during the tournament, while goalkeeper Matt Turner will remain with New England Revolution on an extended loan from Lyon. The World Cup is over for the United States, and the rebuild starts now.