The U.S. men's national soccer team appeared "unsure of themselves" and "lacked the fight" in its loss to Belgium in the World Cup round of 16, former team member Brian Ching told Newsmax on Tuesday.
Speaking on Newsmax's "Wake Up America Early" with host Alex Kraemer, Ching said the Americans' stunning 4-1 defeat on home soil was difficult to watch because of uncharacteristic mistakes that ultimately doomed a team many believed was capable of advancing.
"It was hard to watch, being a former national team player," Ching said. "It seemed like they were unsure of themselves. They lacked the fight that they had in the previous game. It just looked like they didn't want to come out and play."
The loss ended the Americans' run in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after an encouraging group-stage performance that had fueled hopes of a deep tournament run before a home crowd.
Ching pointed to a series of defensive breakdowns and sloppy play, including what he described as a failure by multiple defenders to clear the ball on Belgium's opening goal and a "complete blunder" that led to another goal.
"They looked like they got punched in a heavyweight bout and never recovered," Ching said, adding that fatigue was the only explanation he could offer for such an unexpected collapse.
Kraemer, herself a former soccer player, lamented what she viewed as a lack of effort and leadership, saying American fans likely would have accepted a loss if the team had shown more determination.
Ching agreed.
"When you're down, as soon as the ball turns over, you're trying to win it back," he said. "You just didn't see that type of reaction and that fire."
He credited midfielder Sebastian Berhalter for bringing energy after entering the match and suggested his intensity might have benefited the team had he started.
"There weren't enough players that had that fight," Ching said. "That's the most disappointing thing."
The former U.S. striker also questioned whether something had gone wrong behind the scenes, saying he and other former national team players were left searching for answers after the disappointing performance.
Still, Ching argued the loss should not overshadow the broader trajectory of soccer in the United States.
He said Major League Soccer's continued growth, boosted by international stars such as Lionel Messi, is helping attract and retain top American athletes who might otherwise choose other sports.
He predicted that trend will continue strengthening the national team over time.
The biggest hurdle, Ching said, is developing the confidence elite international powers display entering major tournaments.
"Europeans come in and say, 'We're going to win,'" Ching said. "We have to get to that point. We are not at that point yet."
The defeat ended the United States' World Cup campaign earlier than many supporters expected and is likely to intensify scrutiny of the program as it begins preparing for the 2030 tournament.
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