World Cup
The U.S. team failed to shine on the big stage in a tough loss that ends its World Cup run.
Charles De Ketelaere celebrates his second goal against the United States in the World Cup Round of 16. Alex Grimm/Getty Images
The United States lost to Belgium 4-1 in the World Cup Round of 16 matchup in Seattle on Monday, sending the co-hosts tumbling disappointingly out of the tournament.
Though in possession of a great opportunity in a home World Cup — and facing a beatable opponent — the Americans squandered it through poor defense and a lack of quality in the attacking third.
A pair of first half goals from Charles De Ketelaere and a second half mistake by U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese (leading to a Hans Vanaken goal from distance) was challenged only by a deflected Malik Tillman free kick goal. Belgian forward Romelu Lukaku added one more in stoppage time.
In all, it was a listless performance from the U.S. Here are the takeaways:
Belgium’s bold lineup
After rallying from two goals against Senegal in the Round of 32, Belgium made some major changes to their lineup.
Out went established stars Jérémy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne. In came Nicolas Raskin and Dodi Lukébakio (among other changes).
The U.S. lineup, meanwhile, was entirely predictable based on the successful formula that Pochettino found in previous games. It included Folarin Balogun, who was eligible to play after FIFA’s controversial decision to suspend his previous red card.
A truly awful start
By the first hydration, the Americans were lucky to not be trailing by multiple goals. Lacking both defensive intensity and any coherence with their passing, the U.S. achieved no shots in the first half-hour of the game.
Belgium undeniably started well, but were helped by a truly disastrous opening period from U.S. players who looked timid.
The first goal resulted directly from this. After right back Alex Freeman went to clear the ball with his head, it was allowed to then bounce in the U.S. penalty box. Seeing his opening, Belgian attacker Leandro Trossard pounced and fired in a low cross. De Ketelaere was only too happy to have a chance put on a platter for him, and he recorded the easy tap-in goal.
A mixed recovery to end the first half
In a sign of the magic that the U.S. has generated at the World Cup, even on their worst possible day the American team still managed a goal with its first shot.
The only problem was that the first shot for the U.S. came in the 31st minute, and when the team was already trailing Belgium 2-0.
Yet Malik Tillman scored yet again on a free kick, albeit a deflected one. The score was miraculously tied 1-1.
¡¡¡GOL DE ESTADOS UNIDOS!!! ¡¡¡GOLAAAAAZO DE TIRO LIBRE!!!
Malik Tillman firma el empate contra Bélgica, el disparo tuvo un desvío y el balón se mete a la portería. pic.twitter.com/FThVMSRr5b
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 7, 2026
It lasted barely a minute. Yet again, a complete lack of adequate defending let Belgium get a perfect look for a cross.
And despite Tim Ream being glued to De Ketelaere, he simply outjumped the American center-back and nodded home his second goal.
Disaster strikes again (twice)
The second half brought little relief, and eventually a double-dose of disaster.
In the 57th minute, when Freese came out to deal with a loose ball just outside of the penalty box, he initially did well to collect the ball and gain possession. But after he hesitated for a moment too long, the U.S. keeper was unceremoniously dispossessed.
Vanaken, regaining possession for Belgium, calmly picked his head up and spotted the open goal. Despite Ream’s best efforts trailing behind to try and cover for Freese, he was unable to keep it out.
Simultaneously, the U.S. also lost Christian Pulisic, whose anonymous performance (his first mention in this piece only comes in the fourth takeaway) ended anticlimactically when he was subbed out due to an injury.
Despite generating a few more solid scoring chances, the U.S. was unable to mount anything close to a comeback, yielding one more goal to Lukaku in stoppage time.
The run ends for the U.S.
After such a promising start to their tournament, the U.S. defeat was a bitter shock to the system. The fact is that the American team was outclassed by a Belgian side that is far from its best version.
More than anything Belgium did, the U.S. simply did not play close to its potential in the game. Elementary passing patterns that could be counted on in previous games failed. Bad first touches led to turnovers, which then led to giving up scoring chances. Compounding failures all across the field added up to a comprehensive defeat.
True, there will be plenty of positives to take away from this run, including the first knockout round win since 2002. Yet the loss against what appeared to be a highly approachable Belgian team will be talked about for quite some time. The U.S., based on the quality of their team, was far from destined to exit the World Cup so quickly, but after one truly terrible performance, that’s exactly where they are.
Here’s how it looked via live updates:
9:49: With only a few minutes to go, the U.S. has finally applied a level of hustle to their defense and urgency to the offense that might have made a difference at an earlier point in the game. But it remains 3-1.
9:33: We have reached our final hydration break. the U.S. is still fighting, but hasn’t really generated any scoring chances.
9:22: GOAL, Belgium! 3-1 now, a double disaster for the U.S as Freese charges out to claim a loose ball but loses possession and Hans Vanaken shoots from distance into the open net. Simultaneously, Pulisic exits the game with an injury.
9:12: Second half is underway. Gio Reyna is on for Sergiño Dest.
8:52: And halftime arrives, after a final (actually somewhat promising) U.S. attack, which led to a corner kick that was immediately squandered. Still! It looked mildly better from the home side before the break. See you in 15 minutes!
8:47: Halftime would almost be a welcomed sight for the Americans, who have finally managed a second shot (via Balogun), but it went far over the net and led to a goal kick.
8:39: The U.S. still has only one shot, and was fortunate that Tillman’s free kick deflected in. Belgium meanwhile continue to generate scoring chances, drawing another save out of Freese on a low shot.
8:33: GOAL Belgium! 2-1, just moments after the U.S. tied the score, De Ketelaere nods home from close range on Leandro Trossard’s looping cross.
8:32: GOAL U.S., 1-1! Malik Tillman hits another free kick won by Balogun just outside the box and we’re level! Unbelievable, first shot of the game for the Americans.
8:26: We’ve reached the commercial-stuffed hydration break. We can only hope that U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino is communicating his displeasure with that first period in the strongest possible terms.
8:20: The U.S. continues to struggle to simply get the ball. Through 22 minutes they still have zero shots of any kind.
8:15: This might be the worst the U.S. team has looked in years. Awful start, failing to complete simple passes. Honestly lucky it’s only 1-0 Belgium.
8:10: GOAL, Belgium. 1-0 to the visitors as the U.S. goes to sleep on defense, fails to clear a bouncing ball in their own box and Charles De Ketelaere pops up at the back post to tap in Nicolas Raskin’s cross.
8:04: And the first save of the night is made by U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese, who dives to tip a a probing Belgian from Timothy Castagne wide of the net. Good early action of the American keeper.
8:00: After an elaborate intro, and a rousing rendition of both anthems, we are set to go!
7:15: The 35-year-old De Bruyne being omitted from the Belgian lineup feels defensible, given how he might struggle with the pace of the U.S. midfield — though it would’ve been inconceivable only a few years ago — but the lack of Doku among the starters is a real choice. The consensus among most of the pregame analysis is something along the lines of it being a “stunning” move. Bold strategy, as they say. Let’s see how it works out for Belgium.
6:55: Welcome to another (lively) live blog from Boston.com’s World Cup coverage. Tonight should be an especially spicy encounter, given all of the pregame drama over Balogun’s suspended red card.
The U.S. lineup (given the Balogun news) has essentially zero surprises. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino has found the starting XI that works for him, and appears determined to stick with it:
Interestingly, the Belgian lineup does not include midfield superstar Kevin De Bruyne or winger Jeremy Doku, who were subbed during the Round of 32 comeback against Senegal:
Hayden Bird
Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.
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