The United States returned to Seattle for a quarterfinal matchup against Belgium and the host nations run in the tournament came to an end with a 4-1 loss to the Europeans.
The match was overshadowed by the fact that Folarin Balogun was allowed to play after being given a red card. Feel free to discuss about that in the comments.
Head coach Mauricio Pocehettino utilized the same starting XI that secured a win over Bosnia & Herzegovinia. This is the first time since the inaugural 1930 edition that the USMNT will deploy the same lineup in three matches during one World Cup.
Balogun started up top with Sergino Dest and Christian Pulisic on the wings. Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, and Malik Tillman were the men in the middle while Matt Freese was once in net.
For Belgium, Thibaut Courtois started in net while Leandro Trossard, Youri Tielemans, and Charles De Ketelaere led the attack. The bench was star-studded with Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne, and Romelu Lukaku.
Matt Freese was forced into action less than a minute into the game and stretched wide to stop Timothy Castagne's shot. A looping header De Ketelaere would float into Freese's hands on the ensuing corner kick.
Tielemans had a great chance in front of goal but his shot did not connect and was sent towards the sideline rather than goal. But Belgium would finally strike in the ninth minute as a deflected ball from Nicolas Raskin would find a streaking De Ketelaere to put Belgium up 1-0.
9’ Low energy start from the United States and it gets punished. 0-1 | #USMNT
— Burgundy Wave (@burgundywave.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 8:16 PM
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Belgium was forced into an early chage as Amadou Onana left the game with an injury and was repalced by Hans Vanaken in the 21st minute. Heading into the hyrdation break, the match was all Belgium. They were the only team creating attacking chances and the United States looked like a team that was not ready for the moment.
But as always the hydration break serves as a moment where games can flip. Balogun earned a free kick in the 30th minute and once again Tillman created magic. The big Belgian Courtois was caught wrong footed in the 31st minute and he could only watch as the Bayern Leverkusen midfielder saw his free kick find the back of the net once again.
31’ MALIK TILLMAN DOES IT AGAIN 1-1 | #USMNT
— Burgundy Wave (@burgundywave.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 8:36 PM
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The excitement for the U.S. was short lived as Belgium stormed down the field. Trossard sent a cross into the box and De Ketelaere dunked on Tim Ream as he lept over the center back to head the ball home in the 33rd minute.
Belgium wastes no time in responding, De Ketelaere again
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 8:37 PM
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The first half was particulary rough for Tim Ream and Dest. The Charlotte FC center back had poor positioning and was not keeping up with the pace of the game. Dest simply couldn't create and was a detriment to any defensive efforts.
Poch made a bold change to start the half as Gio Reyna replaced Dest. Overall the United States looked better but was missing the final touch in the final third.
But finally Revolution fans had their moment to tell everyone they were wrong. In the 57th minute, Freese decided he was actually prime Manuel Neuer and went on an adventure outside his box. He chested a ball down and instead of immediatley booting it up field decided to try and play out of the pressure.
This would prove to be a mistake. Vanaken launched a shot from range and Ream hopped over the ball while trying to deflect it wide and the United States was down 3-1.
This will haunt the USMNT like Couva and Wondo in 2014.
— Burgundy Wave (@burgundywave.bsky.social) July 6, 2026 at 9:26 PM
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After the goal, Pulisic was replaced by Sebastian Berhalter. Doku and Lukaku ended up replacing Dodi Lukebakio and De Ketelaere in the 67th minute. After the hydration break, Ricardo Pepi replaced Tyler Adams in the 72nd minute.
Berhalter launched a shot from the top of the box that seemed destined for the top corner in the 79th minute but the blast sailed wide. Balogun got played in on goal in the 82nd minute but his shot was directed right at Courtois.
In the 89th minute Trossard and Raskin were replaced by Axel Witsel and Alexis Saelemaekers. Soon after in stoppage time Lukaku would blast a shot past Freese who couldn't get to ground fast enough to block the shot.
But the United States run has come to an end. What do you make of their performance in the tournament? Let us know in the comments!
