Christian Pulisic and the USMNT couldn’t get the job done in the round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, losing 4-1 to Charles de Cateleir and Belgium in Seattle on Monday. Despite controlling 56% of the possession, the United States committed too many turnovers, allowing Belgium to score four goals and seven shots on goal.
The USMNT began the World Cup with back-to-back wins in group play, but rested most of their starting players in a 3–2 loss to Turkey. After defeating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2–0 in the round of 32 and having Folarin Balogun’s red card overturned, the United States could not overcome No. 8-ranked Belgium in the round of 16.
Getty Images/Dean Mouhtaropoulos
But the USMNT, along with seven other teams eliminated in the initial knockout round, did not go home empty-handed, receiving $16 million from FIFA for making the round of 16. But if the USA had gone on a miraculous championship run, the prize money would have been $50 million.
But under cba Reached back in May 2022, 80% of the $16 million ($12.8 million) prize went to national team players, while 20% ($3.2 million) went to US Soccer. However, the men’s players will have to split their share with the women’s players who made it to next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with the USMNT and USWNT both receiving $6.4 million.
The USWNT, on the other hand, will have to give up 50% of its stake to the USMNT after next year’s World Cup. And with the United States being the favorites in 2027, the women will be aiming to bring home the grand prize.
espnW wrote on Twitter, “After years of advocacy and a class action lawsuit by USWNT players, the USMNT and USWNT share World Cup prize money equally.”
After years of advocacy and a class action lawsuit by USWNT players, the USMNT and USWNT share World Cup prize money equally.
Read more about how the historic CBA approved in 2022 works here: https://t.co/IdocHB3f3s pic.twitter.com/tE8Iw0wc8o– espnW (@espnW) 8 July 2026
After the USMNT’s Round of 16 on home soil, each player on the men’s team will receive $246,153.85 in prize money. Other than this, FIFA awarded $10,000 to each player per World Cup match, receiving a total of $50,000 for five matches.
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