SEATTLE — The U.S. men’s national team came into Monday night’s round-of-16 matchup against Belgium with the chance to further galvanize a nation around their World Cup run and to get to a World Cup quarterfinal for the first time since 2002.Instead, the cohosts’ World Cup is over, and definitively at that. Despite playing with forward Folarin Balogun — who became the center of a controversy when he was given a reprieve by FIFA from his red-card suspension, with President Donald J. Trump weighing in — the U.S. saw its dreamy run end in a 4-1 loss to Belgium at Lumen Field.The Americans played sloppy and ugly soccer in the first half, and Belgium overwhelmed the home side. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, first capitalizing on a mistake in the back in the ninth minute when the U.S. allowed a ball to bounce in their box, then struck again less than two minutes after Malik Tillman’s 31st-minute free-kick equalizer. This time, the 25-year-old outjumped and bullied veteran center back Tim Ream to head in a cross from Leandro Trossard.The outcome was sealed midway through the second half when goalkeeper Matt Freese made a massive mistake, coming out to win the ball outside of his box, but then giving it away horribly for an easy empty-net finish from Hans Vanaken in the 57th minute. Romelu Lukaku, who scored in extra time against the U.S. in this round 12 years ago, capped it with a stoppage-time finish off the bench.It was an embarrassing stamp on a massively disappointing night for the U.S., which bows out in the round of 16 for the second consecutive World Cup. Belgium, meanwhile, advances to Friday’s quarterfinal vs. Spain at SoFi Stadium.Our writers break down the key talking points and moments from a night that started with hope and ended in dismay:Missed opportunity for the AmericansWith tens of millions of Americans watching, with buzz and popular support like never before, in primetime on a Monday night with a global spotlight glaring, this was an unprecedented opportunity for the USMNT, for these American players and for the sport.And they squandered it.They flunked the biggest test of their life.They got beat, badly, by a team that on paper was not that much better than them, if it was even better at all.The USMNT was favored to beat a powerful European team in the World Cup’s round of 16 for the first time ever. But with all the momentum in the world, with more talent than ever before, it looked just like the 2022 team that lost to the Netherlands. It looked just like the 2014 team that lost to Belgium, or the 2010 team that lost to Ghana. It looked far worse than the 2002 team that beat Mexico at this very same stage, then gave the Germans all they could handle in a quarterfinal.It looked like American men’s soccer’s progress had, over the past month, been vastly overstated.Monday won’t take away from the hearts these players won over the past month. It won’t take away from this World Cup’s broader magic. It won’t delete the moments that millions of Americans will remember. It doesn’t take away from the brilliance of players like Weston McKennie, Tillman and Balogun.But it was a deflating, abrupt, way-too-early end to a run that felt like it could deliver so much more. – Henry BushnellMauricio Pochettino reacts to the USMNT’s World Cup defeat to Belgium (Carl Recine / Getty Images)So, so sloppyFor 360 minutes at this World Cup, against four opponents, with different lineups playing before four unique crowds, U.S. players flew around fields with intensity and energy. They started strong, scoring three early goals and taking the lead in all four games. They rode the wave of popular support that they felt in stadiums and around the country.But on Monday, they did the opposite.They were sloppy, lax, unfocused, a step or three slow throughout the first half.On Belgium’s first goal, Sergiño Dest and McKennie simply chose not to attack a ball that was looping down from the air in the penalty box. And Belgium punished them.But this wasn’t about individuals. It was the whole team. It was Christian Pulisic losing the ball time and time again on the left wing. It was Tyler Adams missing teammates with passes by multiple yards. It was Chris Richards nearly losing possession in his own penalty box and nearly gifting a chance to De Ketelaere.The Belgians bossed the first half, and part of that was due to their quality. The U.S. had grown accustomed to dominating lesser opponents. On Monday, the script flipped. American pressing — the type that previously won the ball against the likes of Paraguay and Bosnia — was easily evaded. Dribbles that previously coasted into space were this time interrupted by strong Belgian tackles.But so many U.S. players also made unenforced errors. Dest was so bad that he got yanked at halftime and replaced by Gio Reyna. Every single American in the starting 11 played levels below their best. – Paul TenorioCharles De Ketelaere celebrates Belgium’s ninth-minute goal vs. USMNT (Robbie Jay Barratt / AMA / Getty Images)Balogun a non-factor after all that card controversyThrough no direct fault of his own, Balogun was a controversial figure in the world of soccer over the last 36 hours, the focal point of the tournament’s most controversial story.On the field, Balogun was limited by the Belgian defenders and lack of chances created by his teammates. He flashed positive moments with movement in behind, and was the player fouled ahead of Tillman’s deflected free kick goal. In the 82nd minute, he had a chance well-saved by Thibaut Courtois. But otherwise, he generally wasn’t impactful.The performance was due to be highly-scrutinized, a day after his red-card ban was controversially suspended by FIFA.Balogun was sent off in the round-of-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina and was due to miss Monday’s match before FIFA’s dubious decision to suspend his one-match ban.Prior to the game, the Belgian federation released a statement saying they “informed the United States Soccer Federation that it contests the eligibility of the player, should the player be listed on the referee’s team sheet. This leaves all further actions open.” After this result, there should be no action necessary. – Tom BogertFolarin Balogun started for the U.S. vs. Belgium after being cleared to play by FIFA (Maja Hitij / FIFA / Getty Images)Pulisic’s unsatisfying tournament ends with injuryPulisic exited the loss in the 59th minute, limping for several minutes after a heavy challenge. And with it, a tournament that started with so much promise — with talk of legacy and opportunity — was over amid a cloud of injury.The first 45 minutes against Paraguay was Pulisic at his best. He was the best player on the field, a decisive and dazzling dribbler constantly creating danger.When the second half started, he was gone. After the game, it was revealed he had suffered a calf injury, and he missed the following match against Australia before making a cameo off the bench against Turkey.