USA 1-4 Belgium: FIFA World Cup 2026 round of 16 – as it happened

The USA deliver their worst performance on the grandest of stages, handing Belgium a 4-1 victory in the process.

The Red Devils will face their stiffest test yet in Spain, who they will face on July 10.

Until then, and on behalf of Kevin Hand, this is Rohan Sharma signing off.

Belgium’s ticket to the Quarter-finals has been punched 🎟️#FIFAWorldCup

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 7, 2026

Our unparalleled World Cup coverage continues into tomorrow.

Defending champions take on Egypt for a chance at the quarterfinals.

The live blog is set to kick off at 13:00 GMT.

We’re ready for what’s coming 🤜🤛 pic.twitter.com/4PfVqAol3h

— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) July 7, 2026

4 – Romelu Lukaku is the first player to score as a substitute in four different FIFA World Cup matches.

Super. pic.twitter.com/cBmt8td6eP

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 7, 2026

37 – Kevin De Bruyne begins Belgium’s FIFA World Cup round of 16 match on the bench. He had started in each of his previous 37 appearances for Belgium, last coming off the bench in a 2021 UEFA Nations League match vs. Italy.

Surprise. pic.twitter.com/e5reGl3zMS

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 6, 2026

10 – No player had fewer touches in the first half of the #USMNT-Belgium match than Folarin Balogun (10).

Headliner. pic.twitter.com/zgDXDZreJy

— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) July 7, 2026

Click here to read our full match report following Belgium’s win.

1 – Leandro Trossard at the 2026 World Cup:

🥇17 chances created
🥈2.16 Expected Assists (behind Michael Olise)
🎯2 assists

Provider. https://t.co/BzMMPMfC2J

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 7, 2026

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia spoke with the host broadcaster following the match: “I think it’s 4am in Belgium right now. To everyone who got up in the middle of the night to support us, I’d like to say a huge thank you.

“They should be happy and proud of their players today. We showed that Belgium is a great football nation.

“The players were outstanding and followed the game plan perfectly. We were in control throughout the match. Once again, it was a real team effort.

“The one big disappointment, the one dark cloud over tonight, is Amadou Onana’s injury. We owed it to him to keep going in the second half, win the match, and qualify for the quarterfinals.

“He [Balogun] had no impact in the game. I wasn’t initially happy, but after the first 15 minutes, I knew he would not be a threat to us.

“All I can say is that football won over politics today. Football is a beautiful game. I hate to see some people with power ruin it.”

You can’t say it hasn’t been coming… pic.twitter.com/yRzH97ZIqk

— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) July 7, 2026

USA manager Mauricio Pochettino spoke with the host broadcaster after the match: “From the beginning, we didn’t connect with the game. We weren’t in the game [from the start].

“Even when we scored the goal to make it 1-1, we conceded right away. It was really tough from the beginning. Congratulations, Belgium – they were better than us.

“It is not to find excuses or argument; we didn’t show what the team could do. That is the reality.

“We need to learn [from this]. It is a process to learn. We need to assess the game and see why we didn’t approach the game like the rest of the World Cup. Maybe the explanation was easy, and it wasn’t our day.

“I am principally responsible [in the end]. We need to see what we did, because it wasn’t the performance we normally play.”

16 – The #USMNT have been eliminated at the round of 16 in six of their seven appearances at this stage in the FIFA World Cup, including each of their last four appearances in the competition.

Bitter. pic.twitter.com/yVdgof7RMo

— OptaJack⚽️ (@OptaJack) July 7, 2026

Six spots secured, two to go. #FIFAWorldCup

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) July 7, 2026

They played some of their best football of the tournament, despite playing in their opponents’ back yard.

De Ketelaere was the star with two goals, which set the tone, before an unfortunate blunder by Freese led to the Vanaken fortuitous goal, which essentially sealed the deal.

Lukaku then put the result beyond the Americans with a tidy finish in the 93rd minute.

The USA’s run at this 2026 World Cup comes to a close, while Belgium book their place against Spain in the quarterfinals.

Full-time: USA 1-4 Belgium  

Our World Cup journey comes to an end. pic.twitter.com/j8fACE41hv

— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) July 7, 2026

The final whistle blows, and Belgium come away with a resounding 4-1 victory in Seattle.

Full-time: USA 1-4 Belgium  

Lukaku wins the ball off Richards, and then turns and fires towards the far corner from the left side.

Freese is beaten, and Belgium have their fourth!

90+3 mins: USA 1-4 Belgium  

Goal! USA 1, Belgium 4. Romelu Lukaku (Belgium) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Hans Vanaken.

USA have four more minutes to try and create a miracle.

90+1 mins: USA 1-3 Belgium  

Substitution, USA. Max Arfsten replaces Antonee Robinson.

Substitution, USA. Haji Wright replaces Folarin Balogun.

Substitution, Belgium. Axel Witsel replaces Nicolas Raskin.

Substitution, Belgium. Alexis Saelemaekers replaces Leandro Trossard.