Dave Portnoy Expresses Outrage Following USMNT World Cup Exit

A Frustrated Response to Defeat

Following the U.S. Men's National Team's decisive 4-1 loss to Belgium in the FIFA World Cup, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy made his displeasure publicly known, going as far as discarding his team jersey in the trash. The 49-year-old entrepreneur did not mince words when discussing the team's performance on social media platform X.

“Embarrassing effort from the United States,” Portnoy stated shortly after the match. “Lights were way too bright for US soccer team. Stage way too big. If we’re gonna keep creating international incidents over soccer it may be time to institute a soccer draft.”

Controversy and Performance Criticism

Portnoy’s remarks regarding an “international incident” alluded to recent reports of a phone call between former President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The conversation allegedly concerned the controversial red card issued to 25-year-old Folarin Balogun in the previous round, a penalty FIFA eventually suspended. While it remains unverified if the call directly influenced FIFA's administrative decision, the situation served as a focal point for Portnoy’s frustration.

Beyond administrative drama, Portnoy aimed his ire squarely at the roster. Suggesting a need for a professional draft system, he questioned the caliber of current players, characterizing them as “country club, D-tier athletes.” He further argued, “US Soccer is not ready for primetime. I don’t wanna be mean but this team is embarrassing. We’re never gonna actually be good at this sport as long as our D-tier athletes play it.”

A Skeptical Outlook on American Soccer

Dismissing optimistic narratives about the future of the sport in the U.S., Portnoy remained adamant that the team is failing to reach a competitive level. He insisted that the national squad is nowhere near the top tier of international competition, bluntly stating, “Just not a soccer country.”

Portnoy also weighed in on the nature of the competition itself, specifically regarding the match against Belgium. He wrote, “The difference between Belgium and the United States is that in the United States we always want to beat the best,” adding, “The US Men’s team wouldn’t have even taken the field if Belgium’s best player was unfairly suspended. Apparently Belgium wants the easy way out. Very sad European behavior.”