USA 1-4 Belgium: Belgium wins.

Thanh Vinh•July 7, 2026 04:11

The knockout match between the USA and Belgium at Lumen Field promises to be dramatic as both teams are in good form, but only one team will advance.

America1 - 4BelgiumEnd
  • 0'The match has started.

    The United States is hosting Belgium.

  • 9'GOAL! Belgium (0-1)

    9th minute:C. De Ketelaere(Belgium) scored (assist: N. Raskin). Score: 0 - 1.

  • 13'Belgium dominates the game.

    Possession: USA 34% - 66% Belgium, Shots 0 - 7 (0 - 3 on target), Corner kicks 0 - 1; Fouls 1 - 0, Saves 2 - 0.

  • 21'Substitution

    21st minute (Belgium): H. Vanaken comes on to replace A. Onana.

  • 25'Belgium dominates the game.

    Possession: USA 47% - 53% Belgium, Shots 0 - 7 (0 - 3 on target), Corner kicks 0 - 1; Offsides 0 - 1, Fouls 3 - 1, Saves 2 - 0.

  • 31'GOAL! USA (1-1)

    31st minute:M. Tillman(USA) scored. Score: 1 - 1.

  • 33'GOAL! Belgium (1-2)

    33rd minute:C. De Ketelaere(Belgium) scored (assist: L. Trossard). Score: 1 - 2.

  • 35'Yellow card

    35th minute: W. McKennie (USA) receives a yellow card (Tripping).

  • 37'Belgium dominates the game.

    Possession: USA 43% - 57% Belgium, Shots 1 - 8 (1 - 4 on target), Corner kicks 0 - 1; Offsides 0 - 1, Fouls 4 - 3, Saves 2 - 0.

  • 45'End of the first half

    At the end of the first half, the score was 1-2.

  • 46'The second half has begun.

    The second half has begun.

  • 46'Substitution

    46th minute (USA): G. Reyna comes on to replace S. Dest.

  • 50'Belgium dominates the game.

    Possession: USA 48% - 52% Belgium, Shots 3 - 11 (1 - 5 on target), Corner kicks 1 - 3; Offsides 0 - 1, Fouls 5 - 5, Saves 3 - 0.

  • 57'GOAL! Belgium (1-3)

    57th minute:H. Vanaken(Belgium) scored (assist: C. De Ketelaere). Score: 1 - 3.

  • 59'Substitution

    59th minute (USA): S. Berhalter comes on to replace C. Pulisic.

  • 62'Belgium dominates the game.

    Possession: USA 53% - 47% Belgium, Shots 3 - 12 (1 - 6 on target), Corner kicks 1 - 4; Offsides 0 - 1, Fouls 5 - 5, Saves 3 - 0.

  • 67'Substitution

    67th minute (Belgium): J. Doku comes on to replace D. Lukebakio.

  • 67'Substitution

    67th minute (Belgium): R. Lukaku comes on to replace C. De Ketelaere.

  • 69'Yellow card

    69th minute: M. Tillman (USA) receives a yellow card (Tripping).

  • 72'Substitution

    72nd minute (USA): R. Pepi comes on to replace T. Adams.

  • 74'Belgium dominates the game.

    Possession: USA 56% - 44% Belgium, Shots 4 - 13 (1 - 6 on target), Corner kicks 2 - 5; Offsides 0 - 1, Fouls 6 - 6, Saves 3 - 0.

  • 86'Open and friendly

    Possession: USA 57% - 43% Belgium, Shots 7 - 13 (2 - 6 on target), Corner kicks 3 - 5; Offsides 0 - 1, Fouls 9 - 8, Saves 3 - 1.

  • 89'Substitution

    89th minute (Belgium): A. Saelemaekers comes on to replace L. Trossard.

  • 89'Substitution

    89th minute (Belgium): A. Witsel comes on to replace N. Raskin.

  • 90+2'Substitution

    90+2nd minute (USA): H. Wright comes on to replace F. Balogun.

  • 90+2'Substitution

    90+2nd minute (USA): M. Arfsten comes on to replace A. Robinson.

  • 90+3'GOAL! Belgium (1-4)

    90+3 minutes:R. Lukaku(Belgium) scored (assist: H. Vanaken). Score: 1 - 4.

  • KTFinal score: USA 1-4 Belgium

    The match ended with a score of 1-4.

Updated at 08:59 on 07/07/2026

Team lineup updated at 06:22 on 07/07/2026

Official lineup

America

Diagram: 4-3-3

CoachMauricio Pochettino

Starting lineup:

  • 24. Matthew Freese (G)
  • 16. Alexander Freeman (D)
  • 3. Chris Richards (D)
  • 13. Tim Ream (D)
  • 5. Antonee Robinson (D)
  • 8. Weston McKennie (M)
  • 4. Tyler Adams (M)
  • 17. Malik Tillman (M)
  • 2. Sergiño Dest (F)
  • 20. Folarin Balogun (F)
  • 10. Christian Pulišić (F)

Substitutes:

  • 1. Matt Turner
  • 25. Chris Brady
  • 12. Miles Robinson
  • 22. Mark McKenzie
  • 6. Auston Trusty
  • 23. Joe Scally
  • 26. Alex Zendejas
  • 7. Giovanni Reyna
  • 18. Maximilian Arfsten
  • 21. Timothy Weah
  • 11. Brendan Aaronson
  • 14. Sebastian Berhalter
  • 19. Haji Wright
  • 9. Ricardo Pepi

Belgium

Diagram: 4-2-3-1

CoachRudi Garcia

Starting lineup:

  • 1. Thibaut Courtois (G)
  • 21. Timothy Castagne (D)
  • 25. Nathan Ngoy (D)
  • 4. Brandon Mechele (D)
  • 5. Maxim De Cuyper (D)
  • 23. Nicolas Raskin (M)
  • 24. Amadou Onana (M)
  • 14. Dodi Lukebakio (M)
  • 8. Youri Tielemans (M)
  • 10. Leandro Trossard (M)
  • 17. Charles De Ketelaere (F)

Substitutes:

  • 13. Mike Penders
  • 12. Senne Lammens
  • 18. Joaquin Seys
  • 3. Arthur Theatre
  • 16. Koni De Winter
  • 2. Zeno Debast
  • 15. Thomas Meunier
  • 19. Diego Moreira
  • 11. Jérémy Doku
  • 22. Alexis Saelemaekers
  • 6. Axel Witsel
  • 7. Kevin De Bruyne
  • 20. Hans Vanaken
  • 26. Matías Fernández-Pardo
  • 9. Romelu Lukaku

The United States and Belgium will face each other in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup in a knockout match where victory is the only way to advance. The encounter will take place at the neutral venue of Lumen Field, meaning neither team will have home-field advantage.

Their form is contrasting but both are formidable.

The US team is showing impressive form, winning 3 of their last 4 matches and losing only 1. This winning streak demonstrates the stability and ability of the US team to produce positive results ahead of this crucial match.

Meanwhile, Belgium arrived at the match in a different form: two draws and two wins in their last four games. While they haven't lost a single match, the two consecutive draws before that suggest the Belgian team needs to rediscover their sharpness in crucial moments.

The head-to-head history favors Belgium.

Looking at their two most recent encounters, Belgium has a significant psychological advantage, having won both matches, while the US has yet to earn a single point against them. This is a factor that the US coaching staff will certainly have to carefully consider in order to overcome this past disadvantage.

However, football always holds surprises, especially in knockout tournaments like the World Cup. Current form sometimes carries more weight than head-to-head history, and the US has every reason to believe in their ability to turn the tide.

The pressure of a do-or-die match.

The knockout nature of the Round of 16 leaves neither team much room for error. There's no longer the concept of group stage matches or goal difference calculations; only a win or loss will determine which team advances to the 2026 World Cup.

For the US, this is an opportunity to prove that their recent good form is not a coincidence, while also erasing the psychological trauma from their two previous defeats against Belgium. Conversely, the European team will want to take advantage of their head-to-head record to further assert their position against a rising opponent.

Assessment

The match between the USA and Belgium promises to be a balanced and emotionally charged encounter. Recent form slightly favors the USA with a higher win rate, but their head-to-head history and experience in knockout matches give Belgium an advantage. This will be a difficult challenge for both coaches in finding the optimal strategy to secure a place in the next round.

Head-to-head history (last 5 matches)

  • March 29, 2026: USA 2 - 5 Belgium
  • July 2, 2014: Belgium 2 - 1 USA

Recent form of the US

  • 02/07/2026: USA 2-0 Bosnia & Herzegovina (Winner)
  • June 26, 2026: Türkiye 3-2 USA (Loss)
  • June 20, 2026: USA 2-0 Australia (Winner)
  • June 13, 2026: USA 4-1 Paraguay (Winner)
  • June 7, 2026: USA 1-2 Germany (Loss)

Belgium's recent form

  • 02/07/2026: Belgium 3-2 Senegal (Winner)
  • June 27, 2026: New Zealand 1-5 Belgium (Winner)
  • June 22, 2026: Belgium 0-0 Iran (Draw)
  • June 16, 2026: Belgium 1-1 Egypt (Draw)
  • June 6, 2026: Belgium 5-0 Tunisia (Winner)

Rankings

TeamLocationPointform
America16WLWW

Team form and statistics

America

Form in the last 5 matches:WWLW

Statistics for this season:

  • Matches played: 4
  • Wins: 3
  • Draw: 0
  • Loss: 1

Goal:

  • Scored: 10 goals (Average: 2.5 goals/match)
  • Goals conceded: 4 (Average: 1.0 goal/match)

Belgium

Form in the last 5 matches:DDWW

Statistics for this season:

  • Matches played: 4
  • Wins: 2
  • Draw: 2
  • Losses: 0

Goal:

  • Scored: 9 goals (Average: 2.3 goals/match)
  • Goals conceded: 4 (Average: 1.0 goal/match)

Force situation

USA

  • F. Balogun: Red Card (Missing Fixture)
  • M. McKenzie: Bruised Foot (Missing Fixture)
  • C. Roldan: Muscle Bruise (Missing Fixture)

Belgium

  • Z. Debast: Leg Injury (Missing Fixture)

Predicted lineup

Predictions and odds

Predicted winner:Belgium

Win or draw

Predicted odds:

  • US wins: 10%
  • Draw: 45%
  • Belgium wins: 45%

Predicted number of goals:

  • USA: -3.5 goals
  • Belgium: -2.5 goals

Advice:Double chance : draw or Belgium

*This article was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI).

Thanh Vinh