FIFA World Cup champion praises Team USA despite tournament's end: 'They did surprise us'

It wasn't the ending Team USA wished for successful the Round of 16 nonaccomplishment to Belgium, but a erstwhile FIFA World Cup champion believes the corporate enactment this squad did connected location ungraded should beryllium celebrated.

In fact, 4 years from present erstwhile the caller World Cup tourney begins, helium wouldn't beryllium shocked if we spot the USMNT making their mode to its first-ever final.

Christian Karembeu, the French fable who helped the state assistance the World Cup trophy successful 1998, said "as Europeans," and arsenic a shot subordinate himself, the U.S. amazed him successful this tournament.

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Christian Karembeu is introduced to the assemblage during the FIFA World Cup 26 Trophy Tour connected May 21, 2026 successful Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Isaiah Vazquez - FIFA)

"They did astonishment us. Nobody expected that they tin play similar that," Karembeu told Fox News Digital , portion besides discussing his concern with Coca-Cola and FIFA for their "Every Throw-In Counts" initiative. "With speed, with possession astatine times, and also, the endowment you person now.

"I deliberation [head manager Mauricio] Pochettino has done a large occupation and you request to beryllium arrogant of Team USA due to the fact that we didn’t expect that."

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The full state was rallying down 1 of the 3 big nations, arsenic Mexico and Canada besides led the mode successful hospitality. Karembeu, who participated successful the World Cup successful 1994 erstwhile it was connected American soil, has been enthralled by what helium called a "successful" tourney frankincense far.

But the 4-1 nonaccomplishment to Belgium, which saw immoderate cardinal blunders by the USMNT that led to goals, enactment a damper connected the 3 wins the U.S. were capable to travel by successful the tournament, including the Round of 32 triumph implicit Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Karembeu believes that the nonaccomplishment to Belgium should service arsenic a acquisition for the U.S., arsenic they look up to 2030.

Christian Pulisic of the United States is consoled by Mauricio Pochettino, Head Coach of the United States, aft being substituted during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 lucifer betwixt USA and Belgium astatine Seattle Stadium connected July 6, 2026 successful Seattle, Washington. (John Dorton/USSF/Getty Images)

"We larn each time, each day, each year. I deliberation that done Pochettino, Team USA has improved a lot," helium explained. "That’s wherefore I said I don’t deliberation it’ll beryllium astonishing successful the adjacent 4 years – they’ll beryllium successful Morocco, Portugal and Spain – Team USA volition possibly spell to the final. Because present they person seen what was missing maybe, but I deliberation it was much a deficiency of experience. Otherwise, they person the potential."

Leading up to the Belgium match, the USMNT was successful headlines astir the globe aft FIFA decided to invoke Article 27 of its disciplinary codification and suspend the reddish paper Folarin Balogun received successful the Round of 32, which allowed him to play against Belgium . Many were furious, including the Belgian Football Federation, which released a scathing connection astir the situation.

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Even President Donald Trump got involved, calling adjacent person and FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, to inquire for a reappraisal of the reddish card.

Some argued it could've distracted the U.S. from focusing connected the match, but nary excuses were made. Pochettino and galore others acknowledged their deficiency of effort and precision successful the biggest infinitesimal of the tournament.

But again, Karembeu looks astatine the USMNT with a solid fractional full.

"I deliberation you request to absorption connected the corporate effect and what they achieved earlier that. We request to beryllium precise focused connected what they delivered," helium said.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker stands with Christian Karembeu and the World Cup trophy during the FIFA World Cup 26 Trophy Tour connected May 21, 2026 successful Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Isaiah Vazquez - FIFA)

The U.S. could person the accidental to marque Karembeu's prediction travel true, but they indispensable archetypal suffice for the World Cup present aft getting an automatic bid for being the big country.

EVERY THROW-IN COUNTS AT THE WORLD CUP

Karembeu can’t get capable of Coca-Cola and FIFA’s caller instrumentality situation during this World Cup, wherever "Every Throw-In Counts" gives fans a mode to enactment successful the tourney beyond what goes down connected the pitch.

With a substance of soccer, manner and assemblage attraction activities, the inaugural encourages fans astir the globe to implicit simple, mundane activities, upload photos and people "goals" for chances to triumph exclusive prizes. From recycling to utilizing nationalist transport, to choosing reusable items, much than 5,000 fans and 34,000 goals person been tallied to date. And there’s inactive much games to play.

Spain's Lamine Yamal stars successful Coca-Cola and FIFA's associated initiative, "Every Throw-In Counts," during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Coca-Cola/FIFA)

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"It is awesome. It’s fun, simple," Karembeu said. "Fans clasp it due to the fact that it is simple. They tin play with it with their families. It’s conscionable cleanable for everyone.

"I deliberation this is simply a acquisition and exemplary for everyone. Therefore, erstwhile you person this large level for the World Cup tournament, it’s bully to stock this inaugural with the fans. To beryllium liable and to beryllium sustainable."

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