The United States Men’s National Soccer team’s 2022 World Cup campaign ended following a 3-1 loss to the Netherlands Saturday on December 3.  

The campaign, which had great ambitions initially, was damaged by a terrifying injury to America’s top player followed by three easy goals on a cool night outside of Qatar’s City.  

The Netherlands team scored goals from Memphis Depay and Daley Blind in the first half and a game-winning goal from Denzel Dumfries in the second. After Haji Wright had given the Americans, a late lifeline did not come as a surprise in the end. The young Americans had been outclassed. 

At the final horn, the American players were hunched over – their white jerseys wet with sweat, and their faces contorted with exhaustion. They shook their heads and walked away. 

The Americans had modest hopes when they first arrived in Qatar last month. They represented a nation that was participating in the World Cup for the first time in eight years, and they were the second-youngest team in the competition. It had been reason enough to celebrate qualifying for the competition. 

However, the greatness of the World Cup has a way of inspiring players to want more and to think they can achieve it. 

On Saturday night at Khalifa International Stadium, the Netherlands efficiently crushed any lingering feelings of ‘what-if’ and exposed every shortcoming of the Americans. The result was a 3-1 defeat for the United States. 

But the United States was eliminated in the round of 16 just like they were against Ghana in 2010 and Belgium in 2014. Since 2002, the United States has lost six of its twelve World Cup games against European opponents and is winless in the group stages of the competition. 

In the third minute, Pulisic had a clear opportunity to give the United States the lead after suffering an injury during his game-winning goal against Iran, but Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert, who was playing in only his fourth international game, blocked his attempt. With the Americans attempting to equalize. 

Although the Americans started the game playing better, the Dutch eventually took the lead after breaking the American defense. Depay ran unnoticed into the penalty area as Dumfries one-timed a pass from the right flank to get the first goal of the game to make it 1-0 

The United States kick off the 2026 cycle on January 25 in Los Angeles against Serbia before playing Colombia three days later in Carson, California. Since the games do not fall on the FIFA calendar, most Major League Soccer players will participate.