THE TAKE
"Home advantage in major tournaments is absolutely massive..
Mauricio Pochettino is a world class manager and he knows how to win..
@USMNT has a lot of momentum and I think at the minimum they get to the quarterfinals"
@seeley_nigel #PMSLive
BOLDNESS
6/100
GRADE
28/100
PLAYERS / TEAMS
None tagged
GRADING CRITERIA
USMNT advances past group stage and wins at least one knockout match to reach quarterfinals
vagueevent based unclear
OUTCOME
CONFIRMED FALSEThe USMNT was eliminated in the Round of 16, losing 4-1 to Belgium on July 6, 2026, falling short of the quarterfinals McAfee predicted as a minimum. While the US did win their group and beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 16, Belgium's dominance ended their run one stage too early. It marks the fourth time in five World Cups the Americans have exited at the Round of 16.