Disappointing Early Exit From Copa América Raises Doubts Instead of Hopes for U.S. Soccer

Copa América was not supposed to end this way.

The U.S. men’s national soccer team (USMNT) was set up for success this summer. The U.S. was hosting Copa América, the quadrennial soccer championship of South America, and was once again invited to participate along with a few other central and North American teams. Two years before co-hosting the World Cup in 2026, the U.S.—which we’ve been told, again and again, has assembled more young talent than ever—had a prime opportunity to make a statement on the global stage.