Grading the USMNT's World Cup: Did Pochettino, Pulisic & Co. live up to expectations?

ESPN's Jeff Carlisle grades the USMNT's performance at the 2026 World Cup, evaluating whether coach Mauricio Pochettino and star player Christian Pulisic met expectations. Reports emerged that Pulisic sustained a microfracture and bone bruise during the tournament. The analysis comes amid broader discussion about the squad's overall quality, with some analysts arguing the players themselves, rather than the coaching staff, are the primary limiting factor for the US team.