[Saba Sports News] In the World Cup Round of 16, the United States lost 4-1 to Belgium and failed to reach the quarter-finals. Under FIFA’s prize money scheme, all teams advancing to the last 16 are awarded 15 million US dollars, so the US will receive this amount. Per the landmark collective bargaining agreement reached by U.S. Soccer in 2022, prize money from all tournaments is split equally between the men’s and women’s national teams. After U.S. Soccer deducts a 20% administrative share, the remaining funds will be divided evenly between the men’s and women’s sides, leaving each squad with 6 million US dollars. The United States’ elimination means all three host nations of this World Cup exited at the Round of 16 stage. At the post-match press conference, Mauricio Pochettino addressed the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun and its impact on the game: “It is hard to comment on that matter. We simply did not perform well today, and there is no need to look for excuses. This incident did not affect our performances in the group stage. Every team can have an off day, and today was ours. Belgium played better than us, that is plain and simple.”
The editor believes that Pochettino’s side impressed everyone with their free-flowing, attacking football throughout the group stage. However, they completely fell apart when facing a vastly improved Belgium team.