USA's Christian Pulisic, Canada's Alphonso Davies learn same lesson the hard way at 2026 FIFA World Cup

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Christian Pulisic and Alphonso Davies were supposed to be the saviors. They were supposed to be the guys to lead the United States and Canada into their respective next, and potentially most glorious, eras.

Pulisic was dubbed Captain America early on, and even though he didn't wear the captain's armband at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, he was clearly the talisman for the USMNT's hopes. Davies was the captain for Canada at this tournament after standing out for Bayern Munich.

In the end, both leave at the Round of 16, along with co-host Mexico.

Morocco thrashed Canada 3-0, and the U.S. lost to Belgium 4-1.

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Davies was under immediate criticism following a tourney in which he wasn't available as much as he would've liked. The insinuation was that Bayern Munich intimidated Canada into not rushing the superstar left back onto the field following an injury at the end of the campaign.

Of course, everyone said the right things during and after the World Cup, so there may be any fully hurt feelings, but it was a tricky spot to be in.

Pulisic had injury troubles, too, and wasn't able to finish out the loss to Belgium on Monday.

The reality is that Pulisic, like Davies, didn't seem physically quite ready for this tournament. That can be a case of bad timing, or it can be the wrong plan all along for the U.S. superstar.

The United States needed to be able to give Pulisic the ball and let him go to work against Belgium. They didn't find their way into that pattern enough.

In all of this, there's a bit of a lesson.

One guy can't do it alone.

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The United States has developed talent. So too has Canada.

Somehow, though, neither had enough to help Pulisic and Davies make a deep tourney run.

In the end, that'll feel like quite the waste.