Dave Portnoy, in an angry social media post, slammed the USMNT for their “pathetic effort” during the humiliating loss against Belgium on Monday night.
The United States made a poor effort. The lights were too bright for the US soccer team. Portnoy, writing on X following Belgium’s 4-1 win in Seattle wrote: “Stage way too large.”
Barstool Sports’ founder, who is a former USA Soccer player himself, recorded his rage against players after the game.
We’re an f-king joke. This game was an f-king prank. Portnoy said that if you want us to root for your team, why not have a goalkeeper who doesn’t f-king give up goals, but instead kicks the ground, giving the ball to the opposing team?
After 12 minutes of play, the American starting team failed to successfully clear the ball from outside their box. The Belgians then put the ball in the goal to make it 3-1.
If we want to create an international incident, then we have to stop using goalies that don’t understand what they are doing. And we can’t throw defenses around like Christmas trees.
Portnoy, who was very heated in his remarks, called for the creation of a soccer draft to improve American players. This came after US officials intervened with World Cup refereeing to overturn Folarin Baligun’s ban for one game.
Portnoy stated, “Listen if Trump is going to bully and humiliate them in FIFA in the future and all of us will be angry Americans like they are now then we have to institute a soccer draft.” LeBron: “No offense. You’re gonna play f****** soccer. All these great athletes we have, you need to play soccer.”
Portnoy urged better players to be included in the American team, which will have four years of training before the World Cup.
He said, “These athletes are D-tier country clubs that we have out here.” “Again I don’t mind if we just sit and say’soccer is cool’. ‘”
The irritable entrepreneur showed sportsmanship by congratulating Belgium on their quarterfinal win against Spain.
As a proud American, let me be first to congratulate Belgium. “You guys were by far the superior team,” wrote he. Granted, I don’t know if your team is any good because we are so pitiful but you won fair and square. In retrospect, doesn’t the whole squawking about Balogun seem ridiculous?”
After the humiliating loss, USA fans were quick with their criticism.
Soccer lost much more with this defeat than did the US. The hype surrounding Team USA was meant to attract American soccer fans to this World Cup. Every time a casual American watches a soccer match, they’ll be reminded about that Freese goal. Then they will turn the TV off. One person said, “That game was a catastrophe for the US as well as for soccer.”
It was a very embarrassing show! Another user added, “Pulisic is fraud. The defense is a joke.”

Simone Biles responded to critics who questioned why she attended Taylor Swift’s marriage.
Jonathan Owens and the Olympic gymnast were two of the 1,000 people who witnessed the wedding between the American footballer Travis Kelce and the pop star at Madison Square Garden, New York City, on Friday.
Simone shared pictures on Instagram of the matching wedding attire she and Jonathan wore on Monday. A user commented to ask about the attendance.
When have Simone Biles & Taylor Swift ever spoken? The commenter used an emoji of laughter, to which Simone responded, “Remember, I will only tell you what I wish for you to know.”
Although little is known of their friendship personally, Simone Taylor has expressed support on Facebook over the years.
The gymnast’s floor routine at the 2024 Paris Olympics will feature Taylor Swift’s Ready for It? As the soundtrack for her floor routine in the 2024 Paris Olympics
The Blank Space singer also narrated an upcoming video on Simone, describing her as a “hero” in advance of the Tokyo Games 2021.
The Olympian responded to the video on X at that time by writing, “I am crying… How special.” I love you @taylorswift13.”
Taylor replied: “I wept watching you. It’s been a privilege to be able to see you grow over the years. But this past week has taught me a lot about emotional intelligence and resiliency. You taught us all a lot. “Thank you.”
The list of guests included Brad Pitt and Lena Dunham as well as Ed Sheeran. Other notables were Gigi, Bradley Cooper, Hugh Grant Hugh Antonoff, Dakota Johnson Jason Sudeikis Mariska Hargitay Suki Waterhouse.
Robert Pattinson told Entertainment Tonight that he did not attend the Monday world premiere of The Odyssey because he had been filming The Batman: Part II.

The Americans fell apart in what was considered by many to be the most important USMNT game in history. They eventually lost 4-1 against Belgium in 2026 FIFA World Cup’s Round of 16
It would have been wise to anticipate that the U.S. wouldn’t go any further. The hype, excitement, and home field advantage around the squad led to an overwhelming sense of disappointment.
This disappointment was not just felt by fans but also those who work in the U.S. Soccer industry.
Fox Sports’ Carli Lloyd doesn’t mince words. She knows what it takes for a team to win the World Cup. After the game, she said that the Americans had lost before the match even started.
Lloyd said, “It is a little depressing for us to be here after the loss. But I feel like they already lost the match before they stepped onto the field.” “I don’t understand why and I’m not certain of the reasons but from the start, they were chasing the ball, timid, afraid, not confident. “I think you were looking for some big-time stars to come through in the big moments.”
Lloyd focused on Christian Pulisic in particular. She said she was disappointed with him for not being able to make a significant difference before his injury forced him to leave the game in the 59th-minute.
She continued, “I have to be honest. I was disappointed in Christian Pulisic.” I don’t think he was a star in the World Cup, and this game is no exception. “Little glimpses here, there.”
Lloyd noted that the U.S. had a fantastic World Cup, winning its group, and reaching the Round of 16, for only the 2nd time. Even if everything came to a crashing end, it was still incredibly impressive.
She concluded, “There’s a brighter future ahead of us but it is still a very disappointing defeat to end on.”

On Sunday, the United States Men’s National Team received a major boost when FIFA confirmed that Folarin Baligun will be eligible to compete in the match on Monday against Belgium at the FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 16, despite being sent off in the previous round.
This unprecedented action came about after United States president Donald Trump called FIFA’s Gianni Infantino and asked for an investigation into the foul. The sports community was outraged by the move. The USMNT ended up losing 4-1 against Belgium and Trump received mockery on social media.
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Folarin Balogun Controversy
VAR issued Balogun a redcard during the last-round match between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United States after he had stepped on the leg and ankle of an opponent while fighting to catch an incoming football.
The United States had 10 players for the rest of the game after Balogun’s red card. A red card also carries a suspension from the following match. This means that Balogun will be unavailable to play in the round of 16 when the United States team plays Belgium.
In a move that was highly unorthodox, FIFA announced Sunday the suspension of his red-card punishment. They cited Article 27 of FIFA’s disciplinary code. This is the same article FIFA used when it suspended the two match ban for Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo prior to the World Cup.
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This unprecedented action sparked outrage in the entire sports community, particularly after reports that Trump had called Infantino and requested a review on the foul as well as Balogun’s suspension. As a result, some Americans even said that they will support Belgium instead of the United States.
United States loses to Belgium
The United States lost 4-1 to Belgium despite Balogun’s return.
In the entire match, only two United States shots were on target. One of those came from a Malik Tillman free kick. Belgium, on the other hand, had seven attempts at goal with four finding the target.
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However, the United States only held 57% of possession during this match. They had better completion rates and completed more passes.
Donald Trump is criticized
After the loss, Trump was mocked by social media users for his role in FIFA suspending Balogun’s punishment.
“U.S. Men playing by far their worst games right after Trump and FIFA exposed the corruption. One person commented on X that the post “Reads like a story.”
Someone else said: “Everything he touches, dies.”
“Goes and watches a Knicks match, where they literally lose for the first time in two months. The US then loses one of their worst games of the entire tournament after calling the FIFA head to get him to overturn the red card. “No one can do it as well as him. It’s amazing”, someone else said.
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Another fan said, “I haven’t seen America so thoroughly humiliated on the international stage since that war with Iran we began 3 weeks ago.”
Someone else commented: “It’s embarrassing to be dog-walked by Belgium, after the President rigged the game.
“Ouch. “Trump curse is in full force, just like the Knicks,” said another.
The most embarrassing goal that you could ever concede at the biggest match of your country’s past. Trump and the USA deserve their humiliation. Someone else said: “Justice is served.”
Another commenter stated: “Trump’s blame, no doubt about it. Literally and without irony.
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So that Trump’s phone call and the overturning of the red card effectively killed off the US tournament? Another person commented: “Irony has never tasted so good.”
Another fan said: “I swear that the Trump intervention only made Belgium more excited because they moved like crazy at this match and they were bang-average all tournament long,”
You can safely say that Trump’s hopes were not met.

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Mauricio pochettino, the head coach of the USA team in the Round 16 against Belgium was rightfully frustrated because they did not get off to the start that they had hoped for.
Charles De Ketelaere, a Belgian player who played in the USA’s first match at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, shocked the crowd with a tap-in of a served ball right in front Matt Freese’s goal.
Malik Tillman’s second free-kick against Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Round 32, felt like a return to normality. Tillman’s shot was deflected by a Belgian defender and sailed past Thibaut Courois, the legendary Belgian goalkeeper.
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Pochettino was displeased after his team conceded the second U.S. goal two minutes later.
De Ketelaere did it again. This time he leapt over Tim Ream, a veteran defender. He used his head and smashed the ball into the goal.
Thanks to TRUMP, a reformed USA team has the ultimate edge over a furious Belgium in the 2026 World Cup
Pochettino, as Belgium was celebrating on the field, walked to his bench to express his disgust at what he had just seen. He used his right boot on Powerade bottle littered on the floor.
This was the kind of half that Team USA had. They went to halftime knowing they still had a lot more work to do before the second period began.
The Belgians clearly had an advantage on the offensive side, even though possession was close (53% for Belgium to 47% for the USMNT). The Belgians had five shots at goal in the first half, compared to only one for the U.S. The U.S. could have been further behind than their scoreboard indicates.
USMNT must play better all-around if it wants to reach the quarterfinals and meet Spain to keep its World Cup dream alive. They would be the only team to do it in U.S. History, since the 2002 squad was the first to achieve this feat in the modern FIFA World Cup format.
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Pochettino might vent his frustrations more in the dressing room but it is clear that the manager will have to be clever, as Belgium has the upper hand after 45 minutes.