Image source: Alamy Stock Photo
World Cup 2026 co-hosts USA have exited the tournament in the Round of 16 after suffering a 4-1 loss at the hands of Belgium in Seattle on Tuesday.
The United States joined fellow co-hosts Canada and Mexico (beaten by Morocco and England respectively) in suffering elimination in this second round of knockout matches at the global tournament.
Belgium claimed the lead as early as the ninth minute, with Nicolas Raskin attacking a loose ball in the penalty area before playing a square pass to find Charles De Ketelaere, who easily finished at close range for 1-0.
The US recovered well from the early setback and levelled the game at 1-1 just past the half-hour mark, as Malik Tillman’s free kick deflected off the defensive wall and wrong-footed Thibaut Courtois to find the back of the net.
However, the Red Devils surged back in front in the 33rd minute – less than 120 seconds after the co-hosts’ equaliser – when Leandro Trossard crossed from the left by-line and De Ketelaere out-muscled Tim Ream in the air to head home for 2-1.
And the European side should have secured a two-goal advantage 10 minutes later when Dodi Lukebakio had an unmarked header from a free kick, but he sent his effort narrowly wide of the mark.
USA made a change at the start of the second half by introducing Gio Reyna, and they enjoyed some bright moments after the restart.
Yet, a goalkeeping error from Matt Freese, who had the ball half stolen by De Ketelaere, allowed Belgium’s Hans Vanaken to shoot from long range into a net only guarded by the retreating Ream, making it 3-1 in the 57th minute.
The Stars and Stripes looked for a way back into the contest, and came close to a second goal in the 79th minute when substitute Sebastian Berhalter let fly from long range, but his effort flashed just wide of Courtois’s right-hand post.
Three minutes later the Belgian ‘keeper made a sharp save at his near post as Folarin Balogun powered forward down the left of the box and cracked a shot on goal.
The European side stretched their lead right at the death when they stole possession high up the pitch before Romelu Lukakau drove home a low shot to make it 4-1.
Belgium will face Spain in the second quarterfinal, set for the Los Angeles Stadium on Friday 10 July (21:00).
USA (1) 1 (M. Tillman 31’)
Belgium (2) 4 (C. De Ketelaere 9’ 33’, H. Vanaken 57’, R. Lukaku 90+3’)
USA: M. Freese, A. Freeman, C. Richards, T. Ream, A. Robinson (M. Arfsten 90+2’), W. McKennie, T. Adams (R. Pepi 72’), M. Tillman, S. Dest (G. Reyna 46’), F. Balogun (H. Wright 90+2’), C. Pulisic (S. Berhalter 59’)
Belgium: T. Courtois, T. Castagne, B. Mechele, N. Ngoy, M. De Cuyper, N. Raskin (A. Witsel 89’), A. Onana (H. Vanaken 21’), D. Lukebakio (J. Doku 67’), Y. Tielemans, L. Trossard (A. Saelemaekers 89’), C. De Ketelaere (R. Lukaku 67’)
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