USMNT Player Ratings for 2026 World Cup After Loss to Belgium

What was such an inspiring World Cup journey ended in disappointing fashion.

When competition becomes tougher, the consequences of non-performance are more numerous. This can’t be a day when so many guys are passengers. That day, it was simple: Belgium was the best team.

Today’s performance was far from what these players expected of themselves, and I think that’s where the biggest disappointment will come from. This was not where we needed to be to give the United States a chance to win the game.

Instead of just evaluating players based on their performances against Belgium, let’s take a holistic look at their performances throughout the tournament. (We’ll start with the coach, though.)

US Player Ratings

I think he managed the tournament well. Some people criticized him for making changes in the final group stage match against Turkey when there was nothing to play for, but ultimately these were justified. You saw what happened in the next match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, when a well-rested team performed very well in the round of 16.

The composition chosen by Pochettino against Belgium was the right one. This was the best XI available.

Ultimately, I think there will be criticism because the belief was that he could take us further than we have been. But I take my hat off to him and I think he managed this group well throughout the group stage.

United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s future with the national team is uncertain after the World Cup. (John Todd/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

Rating · 8

For me, Weston was the best player of the tournament.

There’s a reason he’s played the most minutes on this team, and there’s a reason Pochettino trusts him so much in midfield. He offers a lot on both ends of the court.

I think winning a second World Cup under his belt will bode well for him in the future. He’s going to remain a big part of our spine in midfield.

Rating · 8

Flo was by Weston’s side throughout the tournament. As I’ve been saying throughout the World Cup, it’s the No.9 we’ve been waiting for.

Balogun was man of the match on several occasions and his influence was felt throughout this World Cup. He will continue to be the target man for this team.

Rating · 7

Tillman is a special player. He offers something different compared to Weston and Tyler Adams and provides consistent quality on the ball.

I am very excited about the progression of this midfield trio.

Rating · 7

Freeman showed himself very well against Belgium. He had his moments but ultimately didn’t reach the level of consistency we saw throughout the group stage or against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

For a 21-year-old, he performed incredibly well.

Alex Freeman has been a standout performer for the United States this World Cup. (Jane Gershovich/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)

Rating · 7

He is our anchor and a large part of our backbone moving forward. For me, giving Chris this experience at the World Cup was vital. He will take on even more responsibilities in the future.

Part of Christian’s grade is due to the calf injury he suffered in the group stage. A lot of his tournament was affected because he maybe wasn’t on the court as much as we needed him to be.

Then against Belgium, he struggled to have the type of involvement he knows he can. When Christian is at his best and sharpest, we win this game.

When this is the case, he engages his defenders, pushes away players when dribbling, takes shots, and gets to the final third. At least he gets the defense’s attention.

Ultimately, he wasn’t able to have that kind of impact against Belgium because he didn’t get the opportunity to play more minutes earlier in the tournament.

Without the performance against Belgium, it’s a 7 or an 8. But my rating was definitely impacted by this defeat.

I felt Tyler could have shown more authority and dictated the game more against Belgium. It was a disappointing end to an otherwise strong World Cup.

Ream wasn’t at his best against Belgium, as he helped concede three. In the end, I thought he had a good tournament without this performance.

Unfortunately for him, this match against Belgium was the moment when we needed him the most and the opponent got the better of him.

Against Belgium, Antonee was just a little less effective than he has been throughout the tournament. Yet he is one of our most consistent players from game to game.

It’s interesting with Sergiño because he plays a little out of position. He is traditionally a right back and plays there for his club and, in the past, for the national team, but he was a right winger for this tournament.

Against Belgium it wasn’t his best day, but he looked threatening at times throughout the World Cup.

Throughout the tournament, he made the saves he was supposed to make, as well as some bigger saves, even against Belgium.

What will stand out, however, is the glaring error he made which led directly to the third Belgian goal. This one really took the game out of our reach and made it even harder to get back into it.