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

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

In fact, 4 years from now erstwhile nan caller World Cup tourney begins, he wouldn't beryllium shocked if we spot nan USMNT making their measurement to its first-ever final.

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

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Christian Karembeu is introduced to nan crowd during nan 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 for illustration that," Karembeu told Fox News Digital , while besides discussing his business pinch Coca-Cola and FIFA for their "Every Throw-In Counts" initiative. "With speed, pinch possession astatine times, and also, nan talent you person now.

"I deliberation [head coach Mauricio] Pochettino has done a awesome occupation and you request to beryllium proud of Team USA because we didn’t expect that."

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

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

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

Christian Pulisic of nan United States is consoled by Mauricio Pochettino, Head Coach of nan United States, aft being substituted during nan 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 study each time, each day, each year. I deliberation that done Pochettino, Team USA has improved a lot," he explained. "That’s why I said I don’t deliberation it’ll beryllium astonishing successful nan adjacent 4 years – they’ll beryllium successful Morocco, Portugal and Spain – Team USA will possibly spell to nan final. Because now they person seen what was missing maybe, but I deliberation it was much a deficiency of experience. Otherwise, they person nan potential."

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

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Even President Donald Trump sewage involved, calling adjacent friend and FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, to inquire for a reappraisal of nan reddish card.

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

But again, Karembeu looks astatine nan USMNT pinch a solid half full.

"I deliberation you request to attraction connected nan corporate consequence and what they achieved earlier that. We request to beryllium very focused connected what they delivered," he said.

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

The U.S. could person nan opportunity to make Karembeu's prediction travel true, but they must first suffice for nan World Cup now aft getting an automatic bid for being nan 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 measurement to participate successful nan tourney beyond what goes down connected nan pitch.

With a substance of soccer, manner and organization attraction activities, nan inaugural encourages fans astir nan globe to complete 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 still much games to play.

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

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"It is awesome. It’s fun, simple," Karembeu said. "Fans clasp it because it is simple. They tin play pinch it pinch their families. It’s conscionable cleanable for everyone.

"I deliberation this is simply a instruction and exemplary for everyone. Therefore, erstwhile you person this awesome level for nan World Cup tournament, it’s bully to stock this inaugural pinch nan fans. To beryllium responsible and to beryllium sustainable."

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