Man, did you see that?! The US Men's National Team, after getting us all hyped up with that group win and taking down Bosnia and Herzegovina, just absolutely face-planted against Belgium. Four-to-one, folks! A true thud heard 'round the world, and honestly, our goalie Matt Freese had his mind short-circuiting on that third goal. It was brutal, heart-wrenching, and now everyone's looking for answers after that Round of 16 exit.
Team USA's Disappointing Thud Exposes a Stark Reality
Look, it's tough to watch the USMNT crumble like that. That was a listless performance, and it opens the door for some seriously wild, creative problem-solving ideas. When you see other countries rolling out their top athletes for soccer, it just hits different. Why? Because in America, our best of the best often end up in tackle football or basketball. Football reigns supreme here, no doubt about it. We're talking 83 of the United States' top 100 most-watched broadcasts in 2025 were NFL games, according to Sportico. That's a staggering number! It makes you wonder what could be if some of that incredible athleticism translated to the pitch. Now, nobody's saying Patrick Mahomes is gonna trade his helmet for cleats, because thriving NFL stars aren't walking away from that kind of stardom. But what about those players whose careers have gone sideways, or maybe haven't even gotten off the ground? Or even guys whose bodies could really benefit from less wear and tear than the gridiron demands? That's where the conversation gets interesting for Team USA.The "What If" Players That Could've Saved the Day
Imagine what some of these guys, who fit that mold, could have done for Team USA. Take Anthony Richardson, for example. He's 6-4, 244 pounds, and just 24 years old. The fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Colts, his career hasn't exactly been what anyone hoped. In 2024, he was the ultimate boom-or-bust guy, dead last in the league in completion percentage at 47.7% but somehow first in yards per completion with 14.4. Then 2025 took a nosedive: he lost the QB competition to New York Giants castoff Daniel Jones and threw only two passes after a freak eye injury in Week 6 warmups. He even requested a trade this offseason! Norway's Erling Haaland is 6-5 and 205 pounds, and he’s tied for second in World Cup goals with seven, just one behind Lionel Messi's eight. Think about Richardson's size as the ultimate corner kick weapon with those header capabilities! Wild. Then there's Kadarius Toney. This dude's a speed demon! A former NFL wide receiver, 6-0, 193 pounds, 27 years old, and a 2021 first-round pick. He never fully panned out in the NFL, though he did rip off the longest punt return in Super Bowl history, a 65-yarder. He hasn't played in the NFL since the 2024 season, which was a three-game stint with the Cleveland Browns. But his electric athleticism? That kind of burst could be a game-changer on the soccer field. It's a tough pill to swallow, that Belgium loss. But it definitely gets the Emerald City thinking about all the untapped potential in American sports. What if we actually gave these ideas a shot? We'll be here, green and blue 'til the end, thinking about what could have been.This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.