The United States men's national team saw their World Cup 2026 campaign come to a crashing halt on Monday, suffering a 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the round of 16 at Lumen Field in Seattle. The co-hosts were outplayed by a clinical Belgian side, who advanced to a quarter-final clash with Spain in Los Angeles.
Belgium Dominates Early, Takes Lead
Belgium controlled the opening stages, with goalkeeper Matt Freese making an acrobatic save to deny Timothy Castagne. However, the pressure paid off when Charles De Ketelaere poked home from close range to give the European side a deserved lead. The USA looked nervous, and fans in a San Diego fan park were visibly worried as the first half progressed.
USA Equalize, But Belgium Strikes Back
Despite their shaky start, the USA leveled the score when Malik Tillman curled a free kick past Thibaut Courtois. Joy was short-lived, as De Ketelaere pounced immediately to restore Belgium's lead. The AC Milan forward's double gave Belgium a 2-1 advantage at halftime, making him the difference maker.
Second Half Disaster for USA
The second half brought more misery for the hosts. Christian Pulisic was caught by Youri Tielemans and substituted with an apparent injury. Then, disaster struck as goalkeeper Matt Freese lost the ball on the edge of his own penalty area, allowing Hans Vanaken to score Belgium's third goal. Freese was visibly crushed after the error.
Folarin Balogun, who had been controversially reprieved earlier in the tournament, struggled to make an impact and was unable to help his team mount a comeback. Fans on the National Mall in Washington DC knew it was a mountain to climb.
Lukaku Seals the Victory
Romelu Lukaku provided the icing on the cake, scoring Belgium's fourth goal in the dying seconds of the match. The Belgian team celebrated their emphatic victory, while USA defender Antonee Robinson knew the World Cup dream was over.
Belgium will now face Spain in the quarter-finals on Friday in Los Angeles, while the USA must reflect on a disappointing exit on home soil.
