The report says the United States opened with a 4-1 win over Paraguay and a 2-0 victory against Australia. Those results pointed to greater cohesion after a difficult build-up and helped secure top spot in Group D before the final match.
A heavily changed team then lost 3-2 to Türkiye. That defeat did not alter the group outcome, but it offered an early warning: momentum can disappear quickly when the competition becomes less predictable.
The United States reportedly overcame Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the round of 32, despite Folarin Balogun receiving a second-half red card. Belgium represented a far more demanding test, and the margin of defeat left little room for debate.
The 2002 team entered the tournament with expectations around 300-1 to win it. This squad reportedly arrived at 60-1, reflecting a higher level of belief and investment in the group.
That increased expectation made the last-16 exit more damaging. The report says the United States have now gone out at that stage in four of their past five World Cups, while the 2002 side reached the quarter-finals after beating Mexico.
Pochettino’s team had the better opening platform, but the earlier generation produced the deeper knockout run. Progress in possession, structure and talent must now translate into results against elite opponents.
The next storyline is whether Pochettino can turn a competitive squad into a reliable tournament team. The group wins provide a foundation, but the Belgium defeat underlined the need for greater control when pressure rises.
The next international cycle will reveal whether this campaign was a missed opportunity or the first step towards a stronger challenge at the next World Cup.