U.S. Against the World is a five-part sports documentary series that premieres new episodes Tuesdays at 9pm on HBO and streams on HBO Max. The HBO Original spans four years with the Men's National Soccer Team (USMNT) in the lead up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America this June. The doc begins with never-before-seen footage of the USMNT at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and continues to follow players through training camps and international matches, as well as during off-the-field moments.
Lucas Harger, head of St. Louis-based post studio Outpost (https://brutonstroube.com/outpost), served as editor & creative director on the project, and says the post team called on Mac Studios and Adobe Premiere for the edit.
"We [were] connected to a local server hosting all the media," Harger explains. "Each user's unique setup [differed] based on the preference for screens and peripherals. I run a Stream Deck for macros and [cut on] a mechanical keyboard for Premiere shortcuts."
Harger says the project was challenging in that spanned four years and involved so many storylines.
"We don’t just hit one character and move on," he explains. "We revisit and follow along with their personal and professional journey. It’s also one of the most fulfilling aspects. Over the course of the series, you get to know players in an intimate, personal way as they age and grow. Going along that ride from the post production seat was exciting and a privilege."