FIFA Men’s World Cup, Round of 16 United States 1 Mon Jul 6 Full Time 4 Belgium

DrWeb Editor’s Note and Critique: Worse game I’ve seen in the entire World Cup so far, totally overmatched USA “kids” (where are our experienced players? This team is infantile in skill, knowledge of the game, coaching sucks too, compared to Belgium. What a great team they had, dominated from start to end. Humiliated USA Team. After all the red cared hoopla, the kid did nothing to make him even close to the worst Belgium player. Sad. All the build-up, all the talk about we are back, forget it. Years ahead. This USA Team is embarassing, and really sucked in a huge public showing today. –DrWeb

Updated 3m ago

USA eliminated from World Cup after timid defeat by Belgium: Live updates

The USA’s World Cup dream is over after it was thoroughly outplayed by Belgium.

July 6, 2026 at 9:04 PM PDT

By Luke Brown, Senior Managing Editor, Live

U.S. out of the 2026 World Cup

The United States was eliminated from its own World Cup after falling to a timid 4-1 defeat by Belgium in Seattle.

Mauricio Pochettino’s side lit up the early stages of this tournament with its freewheeling attacking style, but it fell apart against a vastly improved Belgium.

Charles De Ketelaere scored two first-half goals either side of Malik Tillman’s deflected free kick, before U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese made a terrible error when he was caught dawdling in possession, allowing Hans Vanaken to fire into an empty net.

Romelu Lukaku added insult to injury with Belgium’s fourth goal in stoppage time.

The USMNT’s exit means all three host nations fell at the round-of-16 stage, with Belgium advancing to face Spain in Los Angeles for a place in the final four.

3m ago

By Ed Mackey, Senior Editor, Live

Balogun stifled by Belgian defense

That was not the performance U.S. fans were expecting from Folarin Balogun this evening.

After the drama of the last couple of days, the 25-year-old was unable to live up to his billing and was outshone by Charles De Ketelaere, his opposite number.

There was a five-minute spell towards the end of the first half where Balogun looked sharp but aside from that, he was well marshaled by the Belgian defense.

His tournament ended with a whimper after promising so much.

7m ago

By Michael Bailey, Senior Writer, Live

A crucial opening failure

And if you were wondering how important that sloppy first goal was, the expected goals step chart says it all.

This is essentially the quality of goalscoring chances each side created as the match ticked along and the goals they would have been expected to score from them.

The opening goal was a huge platform, while the third goal conceded through Matt Freese’s error didn’t really alter the dynamic of a more passive second half from Belgium.

Even if it did kill-off the spectacle.

Continue/Read Original Article: USA eliminated from World Cup after timid defeat by Belgium: Live updates – The Athletic