The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) fell to No. 8 Netherlands 3–1 on Saturday, Dec. 3, at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
Denzel Dumfries assisted the first two goals and put the game away late with his own finish. The Netherlands scored first from a back-cross from Dumfries to Memphis Depay for his 43rd international goal with a right-footed volley, beating a diving Matt Turner in the 11th minute.
The United States has only won once in the Round of 16 at the World Cup. As the youngest in the Final 16 of this World Cup, Turner hoped to inspire another generation of Americans against a traditionally top-rated opponent, stating, “There were some great moments, but it wasn’t our best stuff.”
The U.S. squad had given up just one goal, a penalty to Wales, in three Group B games to include shutouts of England and Iran. However, the Netherlands did not play into the strength of speed of the Americans—strategically giving the Americans more attacking real estate to open up the field for counter-attacks.
“The more time together, the more growth we should have,” said American team captain Tyler Adams. “We still need to develop individually into more mature players for moments like this where we can come out on top.”
“We were allowing balls into the box, and not tracking runners,” added Turner. “When you let good teams with world-class players run freely into the box, makes things pretty difficult for us.”
The Netherlands has competed in 11 FIFA World Cup competitions, having reached the final three times (1974, 1978, 2010), without hoisting the Cup.
The Dutch were content sitting back, conceding 63 percent of the possession to the Americans—defending with strength in numbers in the final third of the field.
American Sergino Dest was born in the Netherlands to a Surinamese-American father and Dutch mother, playing for the United States internationally at the senior level since 2019. Dest made a beautiful run down the right flank, weaving through defenders in the 44th minute, resulting in a shot that was blocked.
Christian Pulisic had a great opportunity early in the third minute, with a close-range shot that struck the leg of the 6' 8” Dutch goalkeeper Andries Noppert for a save.
At halftime, the United States substituted Giovanni Reyna at striker for Jesus Ferreira, and would bring in Brenden Aaronson and Haji Wright in the 67th minute; the Netherlands subbed in Steven Bergwijn and Teen Koopmeiners at the half.
American defender Tim Ream had a golden opportunity at goal off of Pulisic’s corner kick in the 49th minute that was cleared off the goal line by Cody Gakpo.
The Americans would score in the 76th minute, down 2–1, on a wild play that began from Pulisic’s cross clipping the dragging right foot of Wright, ultimately springing high in the air into the back-left corner of the goal.
Turner made two saves in one play in the 72nd minute from a left-footed blast by Koopmeiners, immediately followed by a diving header by Depay.
The Netherlands would close out the match in the 81st minute from a long cross from the left to a completely unmarked Dumfries finishing with a left-footed volley into the left corner for a 3–1 advantage.
Jordan Morris entered in the 90+2nd minute as the Americans desperately attacked the Dutch box late in the match without success.
“Didn’t want the journey to end ... there’s no other group of guys I‘d rather go to battle with ... very proud of this group,” said Weston McKinnie. “We exceeded expectations that people had for us—I think we’ll continue to do that.”
The United States last hosted the World Cup in 1994, and will host the next World Cup in 2026 alongside Canada and Mexico.
“We made progress,” said American coach Gregg Berhalter. “It’s really special to see ... a bond like that between teammates, and really proud of this group, but bitterly disappointed in the result.”
The Netherlands will meet the winner of Argentina versus Australia on Friday in the quarterfinals.
