United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) was eliminated from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar with a 3-1 defeat by the Netherlands. The loss ends a rollercoaster ride that began four years earlier when the U.S. team failed to qualify for World Cup competition but also speaks to a robust future for the USMNT and soccer in the United States.
WHAT TO KNOW
The United States got out of the group stage with draws against Wales and England, then a victory over Iran, but were unable to win in the knockout round that would have sent the team to the quarterfinals. One of the main goals for the USMNT this World Cup was to show the world that the US can compete and win at the highest level.
The U.S. team had opportunities early in the match, including a one-on-one opportunity for Christian Pulisic at the three-minute mark, but the dangerous striker could not lift the ball over the Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert. The Netherlands scored the first goal of the game when Memphis Depay took a pass just outside the box and fired a shot to the lower left, defeating U.S. goalkeeper Matt Turner to go up 1-0.
The second Netherlands goal came right at halftime, and some U.S. players may have thought the half was already over when Denzel Dumfries cut a pass back to set up a shot by Daley Blind. Blind snuck the shot into the net for a 2-0 lead.
The U.S. had another great opportunity in the second half at the 50-minute mark when a cross to Weston McKennie from Pulisic was saved by Noppert. Not to be outdone, Turner made yet another athletic and impressive save on a deflected shot off a U.S. player to prevent an own-goal.
The U.S. finally got on the board at the 76-minute mark after Berhalter substituted several key starters out of the match to bring in fresh legs. DeAndre Yedlin put a through pass to Pulisic, whose shot flipped off the heel of Haji Wright. Both Yedlin and Wright had come in as subs in the second half.
The Dutch put the game away for good at 81 minutes on a hooking cross pass from Blind that found Dumfries uncovered at the backside of the net. His hit skirted into the net for a 3-1 final score.
BY THE NUMBERS
The USMNT has never won a match in which they concede the first score of the game dating back to at least 1960. Today’s loss marks 24 World Cup losses for the U.S. team.
The U.S. outshot the Netherlands, putting the ball on goal eight times on 17 shots against six on target and 11 shots overall by the Netherlands. The U.S. dominated in the time of possession, holding the ball for 59% of the match. The U.S. totaled more accurate passes, with 569 completed passes against 415 by the Dutch team and an accuracy of 82% against 76%.
The Americans also played a cleaner game, drawing just five fouls against 10 fouls and two yellow cards against the Netherlands.
WHO SAID?
Head coach Gregg Berhalter said: “This is such a great group of guys and we came up short today but not for the lack of trying. When you think about this group and how they have come together over the last three and a half years it is really special to see. I am really proud of this group but bitterly disappointed in the result.”
UP NEXT
The USMNT will watch the remainder of the World Cup and begin preparing to welcome the world stateside when the 2026 FIFA World Cup travels to North America.
