01 The Lede
Mauricio Pochettino will decide his USMNT future next week, per ESPN. The timing matters. Two weeks after the 4–1 Round of 16 loss to Belgium in Seattle ended the home World Cup, U.S. Soccer needs to know whether it is searching for a new coach or building on what Pochettino started. The program finished first in Group D with 6 points and scored 8 group-stage goals — both program records. It also exited at exactly the same stage as 2022. Until Pochettino gives an answer, every other question is secondary.
02 Quick Passes
FIFA rankings bump. The USMNT jumped to No. 16 in the post-World Cup FIFA rankings, per SBI Soccer. A group-stage record and a round of 16 run will do that.
Balogun transfer market heating up. Juventus and Borussia Dortmund are both targeting the striker, per ESPN. Three World Cup goals — and a red card that became a geopolitical incident — will attract attention.
Trump and Infantino, awkward on stage. At the World Cup final, Trump interrupted FIFA president Infantino with a pointed remark about the USMNT's early exit, per the Irish Star. The final itself was held Sunday at MetLife Stadium.
Next captain conversation. Tim Ream — who just wrapped his tournament as skipper — told NBC Los Angeles that one specific player “would be perfect” to take the armband. He didn’t name the player publicly — but the story is already running.
USMNT jumps to No. 16. Spain opened as early favorites for 2030, with the USMNT listed as long shots, per The Athletic. Four years is a long time in this program.
Infantino and the red card scandal. FIFA's Gianni Infantino is unlikely to face IOC sanctions over the Balogun red card reversal, per The Guardian. The episode — where Trump lobbied FIFA to suspend the card, Balogun sat out vs. Bosnia, and the U.S. lost to Belgium anyway — remains one of the tournament’s defining stories.
03 Player Watch
Folarin Balogun said he thought it was “a joke” when FIFA suspended his red card following Trump’s call to Infantino, per MercoPress. He also revealed Pochettino’s key advice after the controversial red card: stay focused, trust the team, per Yahoo Sports. He finished with 3 World Cup goals — tied with Landon Donovan for second-most by a USMNT player in a single tournament — and now has Juventus and Dortmund circling. Whatever happens with the coaching staff, Balogun’s market is only going up.
04 The Scene
Diego Luna told Goal.com that balancing Real Salt Lake and USMNT duty is “definitely hard” — refreshingly honest from a player the program will need for a long time.
A 17-year-old soccer phenom named Maddie DiMaria interviewed USMNT captain Tim Ream for NBC 5 Chicago — the next generation of American soccer fans is already paying attention.
Sports Illustrated dropped its best photos from the USMNT’s 2026 run — worth a look even if the ending still stings.
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05 Extra Time
Spain are early favorites for 2030. The USMNT are long shots. In 2022, they were also long shots to win their group stage, score 8 goals, or produce a free-kick specialist. Four years is a long time — assuming we know who’s coaching it.
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— USMNT Daily. See you tomorrow.