“How low can they go?” – USMNT losing to Panama in group stage of Copa America sparks WILD reactions on social media

The United States suffered their first defeat of the tournament to Panama, despite being one of the favorites to make it to the knock-outs.

“How low can they go?” – USMNT losing to Panama in group stage of Copa America sparks WILD reactions on social media

The USMNT received criticism from fans after defeat against Panama. (via IMAGO)

The USMNT team shockingly lost to Panama at the group stages of the Copa America and left their chances of qualifying into the next round in disarray. The 2-1 defeat sparked sharp reactions across social media.

The US men’s team which ranked 11th in the entire world, surprisingly lost to a lowly-ranked (43rd) Panama side, marking one of their biggest setbacks ever. Gregg Berhalter‘s team now needs to defeat 15-time champions Uruguay to advance to the quarterfinals. Failing to reach the knock-outs would be considered a complete disaster, especially given the team’s poor performances in recent tournaments, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

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Panama shocked everyone by dominating over the star-studded US side, making full use of the advantage and holding the ball for most of the game. A quick red card for Timothy Weah had put the US on the back foot, but they took the lead through Folarin Balogun‘s goal in the 22nd minute. However, Panama’s Cesar Blackman equalized in the 26th minute. Then, Jose Fajardo scored the decisive goal in the 83rd minute, securing Panama’s victory.

The U.S. team had registered an opening 2-0 win over Bolivia, while Panama had lost its opener 3-1 to Uruguay. A win or draw against Panama would have simplified their path, but the loss now means they likely need to win their next match.

Fans react sharply to USMNT’s loss to Panama at 2024 Copa America

Things got complicated for the USMNT ahead of the last group-stage match day, after the team succumbed to a 2-1 defeat to Panama at the Copa America. The loss at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium drew sharp criticism from fans worldwide.

USMNT vs Panama
The USMNT suffered a 2-1 defeat to Panama at the Copa America. (via IMAGO)

Some fans highlighted the slim chances of the US team qualifying, given their upcoming match against a strong Uruguay side. Others mocked the team’s defeat, jokingly stating that a country calling football “soccer” could never excel at it. Some fans even compared the USMNT’s performance to England’s showing at the 2024 Euros.

However, some US fans remained hopeful about their team’s chances against Uruguay in the next match, joking about Uruguay’s star forward Darwin Nunez missing open opportunities.

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