Was the USA's World Cup a success or failure?

In this episode of The Athletic FC Podcast, hosts Emma Paton, Mark Critchley, and Jay Harris discuss the surprising elimination of the USA men's national team from the World Cup after a 4-1 defeat to Belgium. The team had high expectations following a month of promising performances, yet ultimately failed to deliver in the knockout stages. Critics question whether the investment in head coach Mauricio Pochettino and the players is yielding significant results, and highlight the recurring theme of underperformance in US soccer over the years. The discussion also touches on the impact of external controversies, such as the Balogun situation and Donald Trump's involvement, which some believe overshadowed the team's performance.

Simultaneously, Portugal is discussed following their exit at the hands of Spain. The podcast dives into the implications of Cristiano Ronaldo's presence on the team and how his aging performance might have hindered the squad’s ability to succeed at the World Cup. There’s a focus on Paulo Ferreira's surprising dismissal as Nottingham Forest's manager, despite a successful season, and the ambition behind hiring Oliver Glasner as a replacement.

The episode concludes with reflections on the current state of both the US and Portuguese teams, the managerial decisions ahead, and the future of players like Ronaldo and Glasner in light of their histories, performance, and expectations.