We checked in with U.S. Hall of Famer and World Cup veteran Tab Ramos for his assessment of the U.S. team ahead of Monday’s round-of-16 clash with Belgium. Ramos has been calling World Cup 2026 games for HBS TV in Philadelphia and Toronto while keeping a close eye on the USMNT. Ramos started for the USA at three World Cups, including when the USA hosted in 1994.
SOCCER AMERICA: We spoke in the past about the importance of the U.S. men’s national team capturing the imagination of the American public. What’s it been like for you — having been a part of the program for decades as a player and then coach and technical director — to see how the nation has reacted to the USMNT’s run at this World Cup?
TAB RAMOS: It has gone well beyond my expectations. This is what we have been waiting for. I am sure that for people who were not around for the 1994 World Cup, it is something they could never have imagined. Hopefully, this will give our sport another great push.
SA: Center forward Folarin Balogun is suspended against Belgium. How will his absence affect the team and what’s your assumption on who will replace Balogun?
TAB RAMOS: Balogun is one of the top six or seven center forwards at this World Cup. He doesn’t even need the team to create opportunities for him to score. And, when he gets chances, he rarely misses. It is a huge loss.
As a coach you would usually want to make the least amount of changes to a team that is doing well. Balogun is out, Ricardo Pepi is in. Nothing else changes.
You also want to look at the combination of players and this also leads to Pepi. The last time Pepi played with Christian Pulisic wide, Pulisic had his best game.
SA: Belgium beat the USA, 5-2, in a friendly last March. How does that affect how one would estimate the USA’s chances on Monday?
TAB RAMOS: Although it will be two different teams on the field, it is still another motivating factor for the team. They will be ready.
SA: A big difference between the USA at this World Cup compared to the phases during which it struggled in the buildup under Pochettino has been Sergino Dest and Antonee Robinson on the field together. Because of the timing of their injuries, they hadn’t played lined up together for Pochettino until the final two pre-World Cup friendlies. Can you speak to the importance of those two players and their roles?
TAB RAMOS: Having overlapping wingbacks with good feet are crucial to any possession team. In addition, Dest’s unpredictability on the attack creates chaos for opponents.
SA: You coached Dest quite a while with the U-20s, including during a U-20 World Cup quarterfinal run. Can you share some memories of your impressions of him as a young player — and how he has progressed since?
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