World Cup’s 101 Most Memorable Moments: USMNT robbed of semifinals

By Doug McIntyre
FOX Sports Soccer Writer

Editor’s note: Each day between now and the kickoff of the first match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Nov. 20, we’ll unveil a different memory from World Cup history. The countdown from 101 continues with the USMNT’s controversial result vs. Germany in 2002.

The United States men’s national team was all over mighty Germany in their quarterfinal meeting in Ulsan, South Korea before eventually succumbing on Michael Ballack’s first half goal. Yet if not for a controversial non-call, the Americans could even have upset the then three time World Cup champ. 

With the U.S. pushing furiously for an equalizer in the second half, central defender (and current USMNT coach) Gregg Berhalter got a boot on a flicked-on Claudio Reyna corner kick and directed a shot toward the German net. The effort beat keeper Oliver Kahn but not the arm of defender Torsten Frings, which kept the ball from crossing the goal line. The Americans pleaded with referee Hugh Dallas to give Frings a red card and award them a penalty; had the converted, the game would have been tied and Bruce Arena’s side would’ve been up a man the rest of the match, plus extra time.

The Scottish official was unmoved, however. Without VAR, the decision on the field stood and the USA’s run ended there. It was the country’s best showing since the inaugural World Cup in 1930, and yet two decades later U.S. fans are still wondering how much further they might have gone if not for Dallas’s no-call.

Handball no-call

USMNT was robbed against Germany after the referee missed a crucial handball.

One of the leading soccer journalists in North America, Doug McIntyre has covered United States men’s and women’s national teams at multiple FIFA World Cups. Before joining FOX Sports in 2021, he was a staff writer with ESPN and Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @ByDougMcIntyre.