‘Under Pressure’ was supposed to be the tale of World Cup three-peat champions, instead Netflix had the chance to tell a different – and arguably bigger – story: The collapse of a giant. 

Netflix’s behind-the-scenes coverage of the USWNT’s 2023 World Cup had been sold as an exclusive look at the team’s quest for a third victory on the bounce. 

But the streaming giant’s access was cut unexpectedly short when the USA crashed out of the tournament in the Round of 16 in a shock penalty shootout against Sweden. Yet, Netflix still had to show to deliver. 

The four-part docuseries instead had the chance to capture what fans really wanted to understand – the collapse of the USWNT’s success – while putting into perspective just what the USA’s role is in the landscape of women’s soccer today. 

Living up to its title, the series outlines the pressure the USA was under heading into the tournament as the two-time reigning champions but with a lot tougher competition to face than ever before. 

Netflix's behind-the-scenes coverage of the USWNT's 2023 World Cup was released Tuesday

Netflix's behind-the-scenes coverage of the USWNT's 2023 World Cup was released Tuesday

Netflix’s behind-the-scenes coverage of the USWNT’s 2023 World Cup was released Tuesday 

The docuseries followed the reigning champions' shock exit from the tournament in summer

The docuseries followed the reigning champions' shock exit from the tournament in summer

The docuseries followed the reigning champions’ shock exit from the tournament in summer

Weaving together the threads of individual characters, from co-captain Alex Morgan balancing heading to a fourth World Cup along with mom duties, 18-year-old Alyssa Thompson joking about missing large chunks of her senior year amid turning pro, and Lynn Williams clawing her way back into the US side, the series opened by depicting just how cutthroat the Americans have to be to even make it into the squad.

It also showed the confidence fans have become accustomed to seeing from the USWNT. 

But for all the bravado and claims they were still on top, the USA appeared to know they were facing a completely different level of opposition. Yet, somehow they still seemed confused when their struggles started Down Under. 

It started with a mere 3-0 win over Vietnam – a ten-goal drop from their 2019 opener against Thailand – then further frustration over a 1-1 tie with the Netherlands, before ultimate relief at barely making it out of the group following a 0-0 stalemate against Portugal.

The frustrated Americans were captured asking themselves, what has happened to us? 

Immediately, Megan Rapinoe, Lindsey Horan and Arsenal men’s legend Ian Wright were quick to stress that the rest of the world had simply caught up – the Americans naturally taking credit for the improvement in the women’s game.

And yet the major questions about how the USA itself can maintain the pace didn’t come from inside the team. There was little self-examination, instead it was their forbearers in the form of the heroic 99ers, Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy, two-time World Cup winners Tobin Heath and Christen Press, and, of course, the most outspoken, Carli Lloyd. 

They rightfully asked, ‘Where is the USA we know?’ To which, its current players had no answers. 

In fact the final episode, which focuses on the USA’s shock exit at the hands of Sweden, bizarrely cut from the sobbing US players hugging their families to Kristie Mewis holding the hand of a child in an Australia jersey, on her way to support girlfriend Sam Kerr, who was still in the tournament with the Matildas. 

While a touching moment and a common reality within the world of women’s soccer, it very quickly sent the message that the USA had already moved on from its defeat. 

Hardly the climax the series had been building to and failed to get to the crux of the question fans have been asking since the tournament and one they expected the series to answer, was where did it all go wrong for the USA? 

It showed Alex Morgan balancing heading to a fourth World Cup along with mom duties

It showed Alex Morgan balancing heading to a fourth World Cup along with mom duties

It showed Alex Morgan balancing heading to a fourth World Cup along with mom duties

18-year-old Alyssa Thompson joked about missing large chunks of school amid turning pro

18-year-old Alyssa Thompson joked about missing large chunks of school amid turning pro

18-year-old Alyssa Thompson joked about missing large chunks of school amid turning pro

Apparently, when it finally came to answering that question, the blame lay predominantly at former head coach Vlatko Andonovski, who resigned following the World Cup.

‘I don’t think we were set up well to go on and have the success to win it,’ said Williams. 

‘When you only win three out of the ten games, there’s no way you’re gonna have that coach carry on,’ she added. ‘[…] When we’re held to this standard, the coaching staff also has to be.’

‘As a captain for this World Cup team, I had a lot of conversations with Lindsey [Horan] and Vlatko, being really honest with him and he was incredibly receptive to that,’ said Morgan.

‘But I don’t know that a lot of other players felt the comfortability or the vulnerability to have the chats with him that Lindsey and I have.’

But the players themselves barely held themselves to account. The closest who came to accepting full responsibility was Horan, who said: ‘Obviously Vlatko gives us the game plan every single game but we’re the players on the field.’

The USWNT suffered defeat in a penalty shootout against Sweden, knocking them out

The USWNT suffered defeat in a penalty shootout against Sweden, knocking them out

The USWNT suffered defeat in a penalty shootout against Sweden, knocking them out 

The closest who came to accepting full responsibility was co-captain Lindsey Horan

The closest who came to accepting full responsibility was co-captain Lindsey Horan

The closest who came to accepting full responsibility was co-captain Lindsey Horan

In fact, it was the team’s former stars who offered the best insight. ‘I don’t think it was all on Vlatko… at all. The players have to bear some of that responsibility,’ said Foudy. 

Meanwhile, it was Press who provided analysis on the next steps for the USWNT, saying: ‘The expectation is for the United States Women’s national team is to win. When you don’t, the program moves on and you have to find leadership 

‘They’re going to do a deep dive of coaching, player development, staff, sports science.’ 

But that was it. A total of 12 minutes was spent on dissecting the failure of the USWNT. 

The series could have looked to delve further into the postmortem but instead Netflix chose to focus on what the USA has previously used it World Cup success for; equality. 

It very quickly pivoted from the USA’s exit, arguably without ever presenting closure, to the scandal that rocked women’s soccer following Spain’s victory.

Luis Rubiales, who was then-head of the Spanish FA but later resigned and has since been banned from all football-related activity for three years, kissed Spain international Jenni Hermoso on the lips while she was collecting her winner’s medal.

And the American players likened it to the 2019 USWNT, who used their World Cup victory to leverage for equal pay, claiming that society’s reaction to the kiss and the subsequent pressure that forced Rubiales into quitting was at least a step in the right direction for equal treatment. 

‘Under pressure’ didn’t deliver what was expected – the explosive reaction, further thought from Megan Rapinoe on her missed penalty, and, most importantly, answers on the future. 

However, it did give an insight into where the USA now stands and its role in the grand scheme of women’s football after having been the figurehead for so many years.

USA and Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith is seen talking to the media pre-tournament

USA and Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith is seen talking to the media pre-tournament

USA and Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith is seen talking to the media pre-tournament 

Instead of dwell on its exit, it swiftly turned its attention to what the USWNT’s new era holds, now that it needs compete with the likes of England, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, who have caught up. 

An undoubtedly important topic but nevertheless, ultimately, the series leaves the viewer feeling the USA has moved on too fast, it hasn’t got ‘closure’ as Williams herself said, and, despite a new boss coming in the form of successful Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, without recognizing its failures, history has a very good chance of repeating itself for the USWNT.  

Rapinoe said it herself in the second episode, ‘The success of the team begs the question, when are they not going to be as successful as they have been in the past ten years?’ 

Well, the USA showed just how easily it could crumble under the pressure of success, now it must prove how it can deal with failure. 

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