There were bursts of popularity, like in 1994 and 2002, followed by apathy.

But as legendary Colorado Rapids and international player Marcelo Balbo watched the U.S. men’s national team host Belgium in Seattle on Monday, he saw the indifference turn into something different.

The game drew a record 50.1 million viewers across Fox Sports and Telemundo. It was the highest-rated non-NFL sporting event on American Television since the Winter Olympics in 1994.

Futbol became football. At least in the eyes of the consumer.

“We didn’t take full advantage of the opportunity. Our expectations for the team were to reach the quarterfinals, and they fell short. But you saw the excitement all over the country and how many people supported them,” Balboa told The Post. “It definitely has staying power. You have (50) million viewers, you are doing something right.”

Balboa served as a standout defensive player for the USMNT in the 1990s. And he brings a unique perspective. He was the first American player to reach 100 international appearances.

So, miss him with talk that soccer is going to fade back into the darkness. He does not believe that.

But he also knows that more is needed for the interest to become more deeply rooted. He was a bit offended when he saw the raucous atmosphere in Seattle and at watch parties across the country, and still broadcasters felt the need to ask Americans to keep tuning in after the U.S. team was eliminated.

“You will know things have really changed when we stop saying things like that. No one is going to stop watching the World Cup. If the Broncos get knocked out of the playoffs, are people going to not watch the Super Bowl?” Balboa said. “Of course not.”

Balboa hopes that, as Americans experience the beautiful game on the biggest stage and see the traditions and cultures of other countries, their passion will remain even when the stakes are lower.

“You want it to translate into supporting the local team in the MLS. That’s how we keep growing soccer,” Balboa said. “But we need to start bringing in bigger names and have bigger TV rights.”

One question that hung in the air like an anvil after Belgium skunked the USMNT 4-1: Why are the American men not better at soccer? Why can’t they become a power?

“You have to understand that in every other country, soccer is the No. 1 sport. It has been passed from generation to generation. We are about 30 years in now. It’s going to take a little time to build that up,” Balboa said. “When I was born (as the son of Argentinian immigrants), I was given a soccer ball. And I had every other father try to give me a basketball or baseball. When you are born in Denver, you are given an orange Broncos jersey. When we get to the point where that is a Rapids shirt or USMNT jersey, you will know it has changed.”

The next step in judging progress? The U.S. is considering bidding to host another Men’s World Cup.

“We will find out in 2038, and see how much things have changed,” Balboa said. “I am not going to beat the U.S. team up. We keep talking about this as the golden generation and they haven’t lived up to it. It may have been our most talented team, but not our best team. But everybody, including myself, wants to see this team succeed and this sport succeed.”

College fodder: CU’s Deion Sanders can talk all he wants about winning and how this year’s team will be different. But the reality is that the issues go beyond talent. Players on the roster and many who have left have raised concerns about the lack of coaching. This season represents a watershed moment to show things have changed with Sanders’ staff, especially offensively.

Final Thought: The Nuggets’ offseason is becoming sadder by the minute. No LeBron James, and uncertainty hangs over Peyton Watson’s future. It sure feels like another year of Nikola Jokic’s prime is going to be wasted.

But didn’t it feel like something shifted after FIFA’s eyebrow-raising decision to overturn Folarin Balogun’s red-card suspension? Like, there was a disruption in the good karma and momentum the U.S. Men’s National Team had accumulated in its first four World Cup matches?

As news broke Sunday that Balogun was cleared to play in the Round of 16 despite being sent off in the previous game, I texted a few friends my gut reaction: It was an awesome surprise that also smelled like you-know-what. After all, this was FIFA, that seems to function not based on its rulebook but on the whims of a few guys in a room.

I felt a little queasy about it, but I pushed it down in my stomach. Maybe we had earned this. An opportunity to benefit from FIFA’s litigious inconsistencies, which usually feel reserved for the A-list stars. (How exactly the entire group stage, again?)

Then FIFA Peace Prize winner Donald Trump rushed to the first microphone he could find on Monday to brag about making the call that got Balogun reinstated, and I knew it was over. This was all starting to feel a little too much like Game 3 of the NBA Finals — when Midtown Manhattan transformed into a massive security operation to accommodate . His appearance eclipsed the game itself, which ended with the Knicks’ only loss of the Finals. In fact, it was their only interruption in the entire last month of a magical championship run.

This is not to politicize our national team’s 4-1 loss to Belgium, I promise. But come on, man. The head of state for the World Cup’s host country calls in a favor, and suddenly the USMNT looks like a shell of its former self? I can’t help that I’m a superstitious being: that was karma we just watched on Monday night. You felt it before kickoff, and you knew it was over even before Belgium scored in the ninth minute.

There was no connectivity, no creativity, no sustained possession, no urgency or poise on the back line. One of the most humiliating performances from any team in this World Cup.

Certainly, the talent gap between European and American soccer was yet again laid bare, a once-every-four-years tradition like no other.

But the final score in Seattle was not an accurate referendum on either team’s ability. I’m not convinced the Belgians are meaningfully better than the USMNT. I watched their tournament opener in person last month, a 1-1 group-stage draw with Egypt, and walked away fairly confident that Belgium’s fading golden generation wouldn’t muster another deep run. When they scored two greasy goals to oust Senegal with a miracle comeback in the Round of 32, I celebrated what I thought was a stroke of luck for the Americans. Belgium looked like the more favorable matchup of the two.

The stars and stripes were aligning for a quarterfinal run on home soil. Then Balogun was shown a red card against Bosnia, some 20 minutes after he scored his third goal of the tournament.

It was a questionable call, sure. We were right to be outraged from our biased vantage point. Heck, we might’ve even been unified by it. Balogun was suddenly a household name at Fourth of July barbecues.

But the rules are the rules. Subjective real-time officiating is a part of sports. Red cards are binding one-game suspensions. I had made peace with the reality of the situation by Sunday (which was four days after the win over Bosnia, by the way — FIFA couldn’t have decided Balogun’s fate any sooner?). Honestly, I believed the USMNT still had a good chance to beat Belgium, even without him. I was prepared to celebrate 250 with a defying-the-odds victory.

Instead, the president’s insistence on making these major sporting events about himself loomed over match day. It became a national story. Then the game became our national headache.

For all the talk about Balogun, it was like the rest of the lineup felt saved by his presence. Christian Pulisic was sloppy and listless (and perhaps injured), defenders Sergiño Dest and Tim Ream were vulnerable, and goalie Matt Freese was reckless in a decision that will haunt U.S. soccer fans for years. Balogun barely had any chances to make an impact.

Belgium would call that poetic justice. Americans can only look at it as cruel irony.

Maybe we’d be celebrating a 5-4 classic and preparing for Spain right now if the president had called in four more favors.

That is the simple answer. In the most anticipated game in U.S. soccer history, the Americans failed to match the moment, falling flat on their faces, spoiling a magical run with an embarrassing splat.

Belgium 4, USA 1.

This is a team that united the country. A team that played soccer with purpose, focus and offense, finally taking off the emergency brake so all of us on the fence had a reason to watch.

This is a team that finished with 10 men in a victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina and began Monday with 12 men, counting the red, white and blue draped fanatics at Lumen Field in Seattle.

And this was a team, for all of its progress, that was not ready for prime time.

It was a brutal reminder of the ground the U.S. still has to cover after falling to 1-5 all-time in the Round of 16.

Goalie Matt Freese had a brain freeze.

Defender Tim Ream got creamed.

And Christian Pulisic, Captain America, lost his shield, limping off with a right knee injury early in the second half, failing to live up to the generational hype.

Too bad for all those who defended FIFA’s decision to reinstate Folarin Balogun could not help USMNT’s defense. It was a mess.

Think of the Nuggets in Game 3 against the Timberwolves, and you are getting warm. The Americans could not apply pressure in the center of the field. They could not defend the crossers, long ball, or on the ball, and were fortunate to trail only 2-1 at halftime.

The Americans were passive and indecisive, reacting slowly to a Belgian squad that looked like it had used hydration breaks to keg-stand Red Bull.

The promising and talented Americans took a dive into soccer’s deep end and called for the lifeguard.

“Maybe the explanation is so easy,” USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino said. “It wasn’t our day.”

Two things can be true. We can be proud of this team for winning a knockout game, and stung by disappointment over this performance.

On home turf as a host country — let’s be real, that was a huge reason FIFA president Gianni Infantino granted Balogun amnesty — there was no excuse.

Everything was set up for the U.S. to play its best, and save for the last 20 minutes, it was anything but, as the Americans failed to advance to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.

If it were a basketball game, the U.S. would have had 20 turnovers in the first half. If it were a football game, the U.S. would have lost three fumbles. Forty-eight seconds in, I was counting the days to American football and the start of Broncos training camp.

Freese made a miraculous leaping save, but it was an indication that the U.S. was working on a dial-up connection in a game that required fiber optics.

Belgium broke through at the 9-minute mark.

Anyone want to clear the ball? Anyone? Chris Richards’ poor header set up a pass across the face of the goal for an easy score by Charles De Ketelaere.

If only briefly, the Americans punched back in what amounted to the highlight of the night. On a free kick, Malik Tillman booted a right-footed shot off a Belgian player’s head, causing it to knuckle and move like a backup slider as it fooled goalie Thibaut Courtois.

Two minutes later, Belgium secured a 2-1 lead as De Ketelaere outmuscled and flattened Ream on a header.

Pochettino booted a Powerade water carrier in disgust. It was one of the best kicks of the first half, as the Americans had one shot on goal.

Needing a jolt, a burst, anything to gain momentum, the Americans went the wrong direction.

In a play that captured how excruciatingly poor the U.S. played, Freese wandered out of his net to clear a long kick down the field. He inexplicably pumped-faked with his foot, and Hans Vanaken poked the ball away and whistled it past a stumbling, falling Ream.

Down 3-1 at the 57-minute mark, desperation replaced execution. The effort and energy improved, but the results did not. Beating Belgium required a flawless display on this canvas. The Americans splattered Ragu, and Belgium was exquisite.

They peppered the U.S. with shots and left the game salty.

The Belgian Red Devils posted on social media, “OVERTURN THIS.”

While the outside interference was a reprieve for the Americans, it was fuel for Belgium. Americans need not apologize for finally being good enough to benefit from FIFA’s corruption, but in the end, the decision worked against them.

First, FIFA’s handling of Balogun’s red card was shameful. But it is how this organization does business.

We all want to see them get the call right. And in this case, they did. There were breaches of protocol by the video assistant referee, using slow motion on a non-tackling play. No foul was called, and a second look led to a red card. The mistake opened a wound and exposed the flaw in the sport’s governing body.

There is no vehicle available for an appeal. That is what we were led to believe. Then, out of nowhere, Infantino declared Balogun eligible to play. His suspension was suspended.

Americans were right to feel good for the kid, but awful about how it all went down. Infantino admitted he took a call from President Trump, who requested that the matter be reviewed. Whether it was Trump, Obama, Clinton or Reagan, it is uncomfortable when politics bleed into sports.

In the end, all it did was make Belgium mad.

The U.S. picked a bad night to have a bad night. In front of a nation wanting its next Lake Placid, we were left with Lake Flaccid.

SEATTLE — U.S. President Donald Trump intervened on behalf of American star forward Folarin Balogun, whose suspension was lifted in a decision that allows him to play in a World Cup match against Belgium on Monday.

Balogun, the American leader with three goals, received a red card for stepping awkwardly on the right ankle of Tarik Muharemović of Bosnia and Herzegovina in a 2-0 round of 32 win on Wednesday. A red card triggers an automatic one-game suspension.

FIFA announced Sunday that the suspension had been lifted, triggering praise from Trump and outrage from Belgium’s team.

Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino after the game asking FIFA review the red card, according to a person familiar with the call who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.

“Thank you to FIFA for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!” Trump said in a statement on social media.

The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said it was “astonished” and Belgium coach Rudi Garcia mocked FIFA’s action.

“I didn’t know that in the offices of FIFA the 5th of July was the 1st of April in Europe,” Garcia said through a translator in an April Fools’ Day comparison. “The Belgian federation does not defend itself, it does not protect the national team, She defends football in general, she defends her integrity, her ethics. I think it����ap the first time in the history of the World Cup that there is this kind of decision.”

Garcia wouldn’t respond when asked about a possible appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport or whether he thought Trump impacted FIFA’s action.

“In order to safeguard the legitimate rights of all participating teams and to protect the fundamental principles of fair play in our sport, both at this FIFA World Cup and at future editions of the tournament, the RBFA is investigating all potential options,” the Belgian federation said in a statement.

American players learned of Balogun’s availability when social media posts started popping up during the 10-minute bus ride Sunday from their hotel to training at the University of Washington’s Husky Soccer Stadium.

Balogun’s red card had been one of the World Cup’s most controversial and consequential decisions.

“If you look at the foul, it was just zero intent at all,” U.S. star Christian Pulisic said. “I felt like there was much worse ones that went on this tournament.”

The U.S. Soccer Federation learned of FIFA’s action in a message sent by FIFA in its portal at 10:31 a.m. EDT.

“The implementation of the match suspension is suspended for a probationary period of one year,” FIFA announced. “If Folarin Balogun commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension shall be revoked and the sanction enforced without prejudice to any additional sanction imposed for the new infringement.”

Balogun’s three goals included a go-ahead strike against Bosnia. He matched Landon Donovan in 2010 for the second-most goals by an American in a World Cup, behind only Bert Patenaude’s four in the initial tournament in 1930.

A 25-year-old who plays for Monaco, Balogun scored 13 Ligue 1 goals last season. He has 12 goals in 30 international appearances. He was born in Brooklyn to Nigerian parents who were living in London and in 2023 opted to change his national team affiliation from England, which he had represented at the under-21 level.

“He strikes fear into a lot of defenders,” Richards said.

The host U.S. is seeking to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002. The Americans lost in the round of 16 to Ghana in 2010, Belgium in 2014 and the Netherlands in 2022. They failed to advance from the group stage in 2006 and didn’t qualify for the 2018 tournament.

The USSF said it will not make Balogun available for comment Sunday, but Balogun posted on social media a picture of himself in front of U.S. fans and overlaid with music of Michael Jackson’s pop single “Bad.”

On Friday, Balogun said he thought a yellow card instead of red “would have been fair.”

FIFA said its decision relied on Article 27 of disciplinary committee rules.

“The judicial body may decide to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure. By suspending the implementation of the sanction, the judicial body subjects the person sanctioned to a probationary period of one to four years,” the rule states.

FIFA in November deferred the final two games of a three-match ban for Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo for a red card against Ireland in a World Cup qualifier, allowing him to play at the start of the World Cup.

Argentine defender Nicolás Otamendi and Ecuadoran midfielder Moisés Caicedo in April had one-game bans deferred for red cards in qualifiers, also allowing them to be available for World Cup openers.

Brazil’s Garrincha was ejected from a 1962 semifinal but allowed to play in the final against Chile after political pressure.

Price reported from Washington, D.C.

AP Soccer Writer James Robson and AP Sports Writers Andrew Destin and Jim Vertuno contributed to this report.

The World Cup should be embarrassed by the suspension of United States Men’s National Team forward Folarin Balogun for serious foul play (SFP). It was TBS (Total Bull(sheet).

When a Bosnia-Herzegovina player reacted to the decision by hugging Balogun apologetically on the pitch, it tells you how awful the call was.

Here is what irks.

After Balogun stepped on Tarik Muharemović’s ankle as they were playing the ball, it was not deemed worthy of a card by referee Raphael Claus. Then the video assistant referee Juan Ernesto Soto Arévalo gave Bosnia a Christmas gift.

Using slow-motion replays, which is not the correct application of protocols because it was not a tackle situation, Arevalo determined the play was dangerous, and Balogun received a red card. It is the equivalent of an NBA player getting tangled up on a rebound, and a no-whistle turning into an ejection.

It makes no sense. No person can objectively watch the contact and see intent.

Worse, Lionel Messi, the Argentinian soccer god, stepped on the back of an Algerian player’s calf on Tuesday and received nothing. Zilch. Whether it was clumsy or not, it looked more purposeful than any action by Balogun.

“For me, never is it a red card,” USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino said.

There is no way around it. The U.S. could use Balogun against the veteran-laden Belgium team on Monday in Seattle. Balogun has established himself as one of the best forwards in American history, capable of well-timed rocket bursts to create space and unafraid of physicality.

But playing without him for 30 minutes, the U.S. showed how it can beat Belgium.

The Americans won their first knockout game in 24 years because they won ugly. They can reach the finish line in different ways now, a stark contrast to previous decades of underwhelming teams and performances on the biggest stage.

Ricardo Pepi figures to start in place of Balogun. He played for the injured Christian Pulisic in a 2-0 win over Australia in the group stage. So, he is not wandering into the spotlight with dilated pupils.

Everything about the call against Balogun stunk. But this U.S. team should not sink. The Americans made it to the Sweet 16, the bare minimum requirement for a group with this talent. It is time to show the grit that surfaced at the end of the last victory for 90 minutes.

There was no playing the victim. The anger became motivation. It must be channeled again.

Two weeks ago, those outside of the soccer world did not know who Balogun was — admittedly, I barely did as I was researching for potential future columns. Now, every fan is furious and concerned about how the Americans will manage without him.

The best answer to a ridiculous VAR? Go BTA (Belt to bleep) against Belgium, freeing Balogun to play in the next game.

One-score horror: ESPN unearthed a statistic that frames the challenge facing the Broncos, one that I have emphasized when criticizing the team’s static offseason. From 2015-2024, only one team that led the league in one-score wins won a playoff game the following season. The Chiefs had the most one-score victories in 2020 and won a postseason game in 2021 before falling in the conference finals. The Broncos won 11 one-score games last regular season. The best way to avoid the follow-up trap? Play fewer close games because of a more dynamic offense, especially after the opening six-pack.

Condon Knocking: Pretty soon, the Rockies will not be able to avoid the question. Ideally, they would have kept outfielder Charlie Condon in the minors until September call-ups. He is making that increasingly difficult. Not only does the top prospect have 20 home runs in 73 Triple-A games, but his strikeout rate is reasonable (23.5 percent), and he is walking 14.6 percent of the time. Metrics that suggest he is ready for a promotion. The trade deadline is Aug. 3. That should be the latest Condon arrives in the big leagues, as the Rockies ship out an outfielder or two for pitching.

“Mama is from São Paulo,” Reed’s dad, Josh, told me as we stood on the patio outside The British Bulldog, flanked by Michelob tall boys and USMNT jerseys, before a World Cup watch party that pitted the Stars & Stripes against the Dragons of Bosnia-Herzegovina. “(Her family is) hard core. Well, she is, anyway.”

He nodded at his son, tall for 15 with a neat patch of blond hair up top.

“He’s more of an American football fan,” Josh continued. “Which is another reason we’re here, too. To get him into his heritage.”

Reed says he’s a big Broncos guy. A major Bo Nix guy.

“But no World Cup Fever yet?” I wondered.

“A little bit,” Reed replied. “But just a little bit.”

“Tonight,” Josh said, “we’ll convert him.”

If you’re going to find soccer religion, The Bulldog at the intersection of 21st Street and Stout is a fountain of faith.

On the wall across the bar are autographs of former USMNT greats, scrawled inside a mighty shield. Capacity’s capped at just 66 patrons, yet the kitchen proudly punches above its weight when it comes to authenticity. The menu includes United Kingdom staples such as shepherd’s pie and giant breakfasts that feature black pudding — a fancy word for a savory sausage mixed with blood.

Nobody opens their arms to welcome strangers the way Denver soccer fans do, and the Scots aren’t the only ones who know how to party. So when Josh’s pal Brian Bohnert invited Reed and Josh to join him downtown on Wednesday, the two jumped at the chance. When the Yanks are chasing history, even Denver’s soccer agnostics are looking for a shotgun seat on the bandwagon. Plenty of room. Watch your step. And your wallet.

“Bring the boy,” Bohnert told Josh. “Let’s go watch some soccer.”

“What was your response?” I asked.

“(Expletive), ay!” he laughed. “I probably can’t say that.”

“Nah, that’s fine,” I chuckled.

Hey, man, these colors don’t run. Unless it’s all over the Dragons. Wednesday’s 2-0 victory in Santa Clara, Calif., sends the U.S.A. to the World Cup’s Round of 16 for just the sixth time since 1950.

“There are patterns and things, but this is new, uncharted territory,” Bohnert said. “The U.S. truly has a chance to win the World Cup. People didn’t think that (before). But we’ve got a good coach, and we had some drama in the team … but that’s why they play the game.

“So here we are. Why not us? Why not us?”

Bohnert is a cool dude by habit and a globalist by nature. He also teaches A.P. politics as part of his day job, during one of the more, shall we say, “interesting” political times in American history.

“The World Cup — it’s bringing people together,” Bohnert offered before the match. “That is the point of The Beautiful Game. And, you know, the world needs a little bit of a timeout.”

At its best, the game is a big tent of strange bedfellows. Bohnert got involved with the American Outlaws, a USMNT supporters’ group, on the way to a U.S.-El Salvador match in Salt Lake City 16-ish years ago, when his cadre passed an RV in Wyoming that had broken down with guys in USA gear milling about the road.

When Brian’s group eventually set up in the fan parking lot in Utah, the soccer gods intervened. Bohnert was wearing a denim Alexei Lalas shirt and spotted a stranger walking by with the same outfit.

“Nice shirt,” the stranger quipped.

Then the stranger stopped.

“Wait. Did you pass us in Wyoming?”

He had.

“Do you guys need help getting back?” Bohnert asked.

“Actually, that would be awesome,” the stranger replied.

A few hours down I-80 later, they were strangers no more. Turns out the Wyo crew were members of a fledgling “Outlaws” group, or “AO” for short. They left Bohnert with some AO t-shirts and some contact info.

“They said, ‘If you want to create a chapter, you’ve got to do this, this, and this,'” Bohnert recalled. “And since then, we’ve traveled with them to the Estadio Azteca in Mexico, all over the place.”

Bohnert was even a midfielder on a local rec footie team that played proudly in jean shorts, nicknamed “Jorts FC.” One of Brian’s Jorts teammates, another midfielder in a dark blue USA shirt, laughed Wednesday as they rolled back the clock.

“We’re looking better than ever,” Robert Wilson of Arvada, another Outlaw, gushed when asked about the USMNT. “And we have the potential to do what we never have … how we play, how (effective) and determined we are. We don’t get through the game. We dictate the game.”

Control against Bosnia-Herzegovina took a while, granted. The U.S. had the better chances in the first half, although the Stars & Stripes and Dragons were even on shots (one each) going into the interval.

As Folarin Balogun’s left-footed poke tickled the back of the net to give the Americans a 1-0 lead just before halftime, beer can after beer can was lowered to half-staff. Proud fists came out.

“USA!” they chanted. “USA! USA! USA! USA!”

It happened again in the 82nd minute, as Malik Tillman’s free kick curled hard to the left, eluding the keeper for a 2-0 American cushion that sealed the Dragons’ fate.

“USA! USA! USA! USA!”

Why not them? Why not now?

Even the converts believe.

“My opinion has changed after today’s game,” Reed told me, grinning, as the July sun set behind us.

“Why?”

“I think the atmosphere (here) helped,” he continued. He smiled again. “And that our team’s actually good makes everything better.”

Amen. Faith is a fickle mistress. But you never, ever forget that first kiss.

Sean Keeler: Your humble colleague is a footie fan, full-stop, no apologies. Got bitten by the bug during USA ’94. Partied with Nigerian fans in Athens, Ga., as we watched the Super Eagles upset Argentina to win the men’s soccer gold in ’96. Denver is an amazing, fun, vibrant soccer town. FIFA? FIFA is as crooked as the Serpents Trail, my friend. When Colorado whiffed on its penalty kick with footie bigwigs during the bid process a few years back, I raged. “What does Kansas City have that Denver doesn’t?” I asked. Rooms that FIFA had booked in blocks — only to cancel at the last minute. Oh, and without any cancellation fees on the back end for KC to recoup. Because Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s fawning, making-up-trophies-to-give-world-leaders president? That’s how he rolls, baby.

World Cup 2026: Matches, scores, brackets, results and more

Renck: The running joke is if you want to watch a good shakedown, skip the mob movies and watch documentaries on how the IOC and FIFA choose host cities. The demands are outrageous and, in some cases, criminal. In 2015, the U.S. Department of Justice indicted 14 football executives for racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering. When Denver submitted its bid, it made a final offer. FIFA wanted assurances the city would cover all cost overruns, and make everything whole. So, I am not going to crush Denver for drawing a line in the sand. The reality is the timing stunk. Everyone knows how much Denver loves soccer (See Denver Summit FC and Lionel Messi appearance). But the city needed a savior in the Broncos owners, and the bid was submitted before the Walton-Penner group took over. Who knows if they would have stepped up to fill in the gaps like soccer AFLAC. History says they would have. In the absence of that help, Denver showed proper restraint, even if watching right now hurts.

Keeler: The Denver chapter might have had a different ending if Carrie Walton-Penner and Greg Penner were in the picture to soak up cost overruns. I don't blame the city for balking, though, given what's come out over the last 8-12 months. be built over Soldier Field -- and that the locals were on the hook to pay for it. The state of Missouri reportedly forked over $78 million and the state of Kansas $28 million for infrastructure, security, etc. No wonder Colorado took a pass.

Renck: It is OK to not get everything you want. We have become spoiled because of Final Fours, high-profile soccer exhibitions and having four major sports teams that we believe Denver should host anything of merit out of default. If it were just on private donations, it would be easier to have a problem with missing out. But at the time of the bid, the city did not have its Clark Hunt or Robert Kraft to push it through. Given the financial issues facing Denver, it would be impossible to rationalize the city increasing taxes to cover the open-ended costs. There is no doubt Denver deserves to host the World Cup. But there is also no shame in showing common sense, if not cents, and waiting to go all out to host the Women's World Cup in 2031.

Keeler: And it will. Or at least, it should. Summit FC got on a roll after May 9, and the powers behind the club want to keep those good vibes going. Did you see the way Can you imagine the juice those kind of travelers would give Coors Field during another sad Rockies summer? Denver deserves to walk on world soccer's biggest catwalks. But not by having to sell its shirt first.

The 31-year-old underwent successful surgery on his right shoulder, the club announced on Tuesday. He’s expected to miss 5-6 months, which means he’s likely to miss the remainder of the MLS regular season and most of the playoffs.

Steffen joined the Rapids ahead of the 2024 season and has racked up 78 appearances in all competitions for the club. In regular-season games since then, he’s amassed 240 saves and 12 clean sheets while giving up 111 goals.

Steffen’s stint in Colorado has been a rollercoaster of sorts. He started the 2024 season on a rocky streak before embarking on a legendary Leagues Cup run, during which he was named goalkeeper of the tournament. In that run, he racked up a tournament-high 35 saves in seven games for an absurd 5-save-per-game average. He helped the club to three penalty shootout wins, including in the third-place match and a thrilling 10-round shootout against Club América in the quarterfinal in which he attempted and converted a penalty of his own.

The performance put his name near the top of the U.S. Men’s National Team goalkeeper pool, and he stayed put in Mauricio Pochettino’s group for almost a year. After a few appearances in international friendlies in late 2024 and early 2025, he was called up to the USMNT camp right before the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Then, as soon as he had the chance to cement himself as the U.S. No. 1 again, a knee injury sent him home just days before the Gold Cup started.

He finished the 2025 season with the Rapids and played well, but went into 2026 on the outside looking in on the USMNT’s World Cup squad. In nine appearances this season, he’s given up 15 goals and held two clean sheets. His most recent game was on May 2 against the Houston Dynamo.

His guaranteed contract is up after this season with a club option for 2027, which makes it possible Steffen has played his last game in a Rapids jersey.

So far, backup Nico Hansen has looked every bit the part of a starter in Steffen’s absence. He’s started nine games in all competitions this year and has conceded 11 goals. For a keeper who’s only played 23 career MLS games, his coolness between the pipes stands out. He’s been the top choice in all three U.S. Open Cup games so far, where he’s given up just four goals and helped the Rapids to a penalty-shootout win over in-state opponents Colorado Springs Switchbacks in the round of 16.

Now, he’ll get an extended opportunity to prove his fitness as a weekly MLS starter in goal.

The returns to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park this spring, taking on Japan on April 17 in Commerce City during the FIFA window.

One of three consecutive USWNT matches against their longtime rival in that time frame, it will be the 10th national team game at Dick’s. The USWNT is 8-0-1 at Dick’s, having first played there in 2008 and most recently a 4-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland last summer.

The April 17 match will kick off at 7 p.m., and will be broadcast on TNT/truTV/HBO Max. Ticketing presale will begin Monday, Jan. 26, and general sales for the game open on Thursday, Jan. 29.

The match at Dick’s could feature two Denver Summit FC players in midfielder Lindsey Heaps, the USWNT captain, as well as Ayo Oke. The defender was recently for matches against Paraguay and Chile.

Summit FC will open its season on March 14 at Bay FC, with its home opener on March 28 at Empower Field. The club will play two matches at Dick’s in its inaugural season on April 25 against San Diego Wave FC and on May 16 against the Orlando Pride.

The career-long Seattle Sounders midfielder assisted both goals in the USMNT’s 2-1 win over the Socceroos, the first time under Pochettino that the team has come from behind to win a game. If a couple of near misses hadn’t been slightly off target, Roldan could have added a pair of goals for good measure.

On the strongest squad called up in the Pochettino era, the 30-year-old Roldan was arguably its best player against Australia at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Tuesday night.

“(Roldan) is what we need. We need a player with confidence, with some belief, with a little bit of arrogance … being competitive,” Pochettino said after the match. “Cristian Roldan is an example of how, if you want to build a perfect player, he has a little bit of everything.”

Like Ecuador on Friday in Austin, Texas, Australia — previously unbeaten in 12 games — scored first within the first 25 minutes. Jordan Bos neatly finished when an awkward clearance bounced into his path to set him up for a close shot.

Afterward, both Roldan assists were on nifty through balls to Haji Wright, one from close range and one from distance in each half. Neither one could have set Wright up better, from the weight to the placement of the passes.

In the first half, a Roldan shot from distance had Aussie keeper Mathew Ryan beat, but went just wide. A few minutes later, a corner fell to him in the box, and he narrowly missed a curling shot seemingly bound for the top right corner.

It����ap been a turbulent few months for Roldan for all the best reasons. In late August, he and the Sounders beat Lionel Messi and Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup final. A week later, he found himself back in the USMNT fold as a late addition to the September camp. Prior to September camp, he had not played in a U.S. jersey since the 2023 Gold Cup.

For Roldan, recording two goal contributions in an international career that had only garnered three in 36 caps prior is liberating. But he’s not satisfied yet.

“I’m riding the wave. I think it����ap important to ride the wave, right? There’s highs and lows in football, and when it����ap high, you have to take a deep breath and continue in that path, in that wave,” Roldan. “I’ve had such a great second half of the year, including FIFA Club World Cup and leading on. And so it����ap been really great to ride the wave and enjoy the moment with my family. …

“At age 30, I feel like I’m playing at my best, but I know I can still reach another level.”

Wright put himself in the mix by getting on the end of both Roldan services and bagging a brace on a 33rd-minute near-post finish with the outside of his right foot, then a cutback and left-footed curler to the far post.

That����ap now two positions — defensive mid and striker — that will add to Pochettino’s headache in selecting the roster for the November camp and beyond. Not a bad thing given the squad’s tumultuous spring and summer international windows. The midfield was already deep before Roldan’s performance on Tuesday, and now Folarin Balogun seems to have real competition for the No. 9 spot.