World Cup: US to face Belgium in Seattle during Round of 16
The Americans are looking for a historic win in their return to Seattle.
Sebastian Berhalter of the U.S. celebrates his team's victory at the World Cup on July 1, 2026. (Francois Nel/Getty Images)
(Francois Nel/Getty Images)
The Americans will make their return for a second World Cup match in Seattle.
The U.S. advanced through the round of 32 with a 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday night, setting the stage for a round-of-16 matchup with Belgium at 5 p.m. Monday at the temporarily renamed Seattle Stadium (better known as Lumen Field).
The Belgians also punched their ticket with a win on Wednesday, scoring the winning goal in stoppage time of extra time to complete a wild comeback and knock off Senegal 3-2.
The U.S. and Belgium are set to meet at the World Cup for the third time. The teams last played in a round-of-16 match in 2014, a 2-1 Belgium victory. The only other World Cup meeting between the squads was a 3-0 U.S. victory at the first tournament in 1930.
Monday’s clash will be televised FOX and stream on FOX One.
How they got here
The U.S. finished atop Group D with a 2-0-1 record in group play, beating Paraguay 4-1 and Australia 2-0 before dropping a tightly contested bout 3-2 to Turkey on a goal on the last play of the match. The Americans followed with their win over Bosnia and Herzegovina to secure their second straight appearance in the round of 16.
Folarin Balogun leads the U.S. with three goals, but he will be out for the match against Belgium after getting a red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sebastian Berhalter, Malik Tillman, Alex Freeman, Giovanni Reyna and Auston Trusty each have one goal.
The U.S. has lost its past three round of 16 matchups. It last advanced to the quarterfinals in 2002.
Belgium, which is set for its third match in Seattle, was the Group G winner after playing Egypt and Iran to draws and finishing group play with a 5-1 rout of New Zealand. It scored goals in the 86th and 89th minutes to erase a 2-0 deficit and force extra time in its round-of-32 win over Senegal.
Romelu Lukaku, Leandro Trossard and Youri Tielemans have each scored two goals to lead Belgium. Alexis Saelemaekers and Kevin De Bruyne have added one apiece.
Belgium is attempting to reach the quarterfinals for the third time in the past four World Cups. It recorded its best-ever finish by taking third place at the event in 2018.
For the full World Cup bracket, click here.
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2 Comments
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They did it! The U.S. Men’s team earned their way into the round of 16, to the best sports city in the country and maybe the world.
When we win, it will be a historic game for American soccer and it will be a historic day for this area. Bring your kids. It is something they will remember and talk about 59 years from now.
There will be two-million-plus people in and around Seattle cheering on the team. People from all around Puget Sound, Western Washington, all of Washington. The Pacific Northwest, the rest of the country and world will go crazy.
The light rail will help —just park within an Uber ride to a light rail station. Bring food and water and your unbelievable Seattle energy and spirit
The world has never seen what they will see in Seattle on Monday. This will be like the audience of America’s Got Takent but two million strong, on steroids.
This team is young and athletic. They are getting better every game, definitely lifted by the incredible fans. It will a gorgeous Seattle day, just below 80 degrees, totally clear with the bluest skies the world has ever seen.
Evertone enjoy it, as usual it will goodclean Seattle fun.
No one does it better.