The United States Men’s National Team saw their World Cup run come to an end on July 6, 2026, at 10:03 PM EDT, as they were defeated 4-1 by Belgium in a Round of 16 knockout match held in Seattle. The loss dashed American hopes of advancing to the quarterfinals for the first time in 24 years, a stage the U.S. last reached in 2002 before being eliminated by Germany.
Entering the match with the same starting lineup used against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the previous round, the U.S. squad faced immediate pressure from the Belgian side. This intensity paid off for Belgium in the ninth minute when midfielder Charles De Ketelaere scored the opening goal. Following a hydration break, the Americans managed to regain their composure, and Malik Tillman successfully leveled the score after the 30-minute mark with a free kick that deflected off a Belgian player.
However, the tie was short-lived, as De Ketelaere found the back of the net with a header into the top corner just two minutes later. The second half saw Belgium increase their defensive pressure, and in the 56th minute, Hans Vanaken capitalized on goalkeeper Matt Freese straying too far from his post to extend Belgium’s lead.
As the match progressed, the USMNT struggled to generate effective shots on target, a challenge compounded by the substitution of star striker Christian Pulisic due to an injury. Despite efforts by leading scorer Folarin Balogun to spark a comeback, the Belgian defense and veteran goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois easily neutralized the American scoring attempts. Following the substitution of Balogun during stoppage time, Belgium secured their victory with a final goal.
Belgium, who previously eliminated the U.S. in the 2014 Round of 16, is set to face Spain this Friday in Inglewood, California. The winner of that upcoming match will progress to the semifinals to compete against either France or Morocco.
