Despite an opportunity to win a knockout round game for the first time since 2002, the USMNT couldn’t overcome a strong Netherlands squad that won its group. The Dutch used two first half goals and strong defensive play to propel them to a 3–1 victory, and they will play the winner of Argentina and Australia next.
With much of the country excited about the possibility of making a deep run in Qatar, this loss was a tough one to swallow. Yet, many fans are proud of the team’s entrance into the round of 16 in the first place after missing the tournament entirely in 2018.