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The U.S. men’s soccer team’s participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended on a darker note, but the U.S. Soccer Federation feels extremely grateful for the support the team received during its run to the Round of 16.
A day after its elimination from the World Cup, the U.S. Soccer Federation released a statement in English and Spanish thanking U.S. fans for their support during the tournament.
“When we asked, ‘why not us?’ you answered,” wrote the federation. “You filled the stadiums. You brought football into your homes, bars, parks and communities across the country. Every time our players took the field, they took your support with them. Wearing the crest is a privilege, and hearing your voice throughout this tournament is something we will never forget.”
The tournament, which marked the first men’s World Cup hosted in the United States since 1994, saw one of the three host nations put together one of its best World Cup runs ever. The United States won three matches in a men’s World Cup for the first time in the history of their federation, as they also won Group D before their round of 16 victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Yet the U.S. tournament ended in an all-too-familiar fashion. With its 4-1 loss to Belgium, it was the U.S. men’s soccer team’s third consecutive loss in the round of 16 at the World Cup. As a result, the United States is still looking to reach the quarterfinals of the Men’s World Cup for the first time since 2002.
Thus, the federation’s statement also focused on the further development of the list and the national program in the future.
“We will learn from this,” writes the federation. “We will improve to compete with the best in the world. And we will continue to do the work because that is what this team and this country expect of us.”
But the U.S. run also sparked record enthusiasm for soccer across the country. While the release highlighted strong attendance at stadiums, viewing parties and public spaces throughout the tournament, viewership of the team’s games on FOX also set records.
The enthusiasm of the fans also helped them form a unique bond with the team. And what better way for the federation to conclude its statement with words that create a connection between fans and the team? The statement ended with a nod to that tournament’s team anthem:
“Country roads, take us home. We’ll see you there.”
