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USA Vs Belgium |
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| Match Info | |
| Date | 06 Jul 2026 |
| Time | CAT: 02:00 (07 Jul) | IST: 05:30 (07 Jul) | UTC: 00:00 (07 Jul) | UK: 01:00 (07 Jul) |
| Stadium | Seattle Stadium / Lumen Field |
| City | Seattle, Washington, United States |
| League | FIFA World Cup 2026 |
| Round | Round of 16 |
USA vs Belgium Preview, Prediction and Match Analysis
USA vs Belgium is listed by the official FIFA Match Centre as a FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match at Seattle Stadium. FOX Sports confirms the fixture for Monday 6 July at 8pm ET, with the winner earning a place in the quarter-finals. Source: FOX Sports
History gives this tie extra weight. The last time these two met at a World Cup was the 2014 Round of 16, when Belgium won 2-1 in extra time on a night remembered for Tim Howard's incredible 16 saves. Twelve years on, the Americans finally get their shot at revenge — this time as tournament co-hosts, in front of one of the loudest crowds in world football.
The USA arrive in good shape. Mauricio Pochettino's side beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32 despite playing much of the second half with ten men, and FIFA confirmed that Folarin Balogun's red-card suspension has been overturned, meaning the striker is available as the Stars and Stripes chase a first quarter-final since 2002. Source: FIFA
Belgium needed a miracle to get here — and produced one. Trailing Senegal 2-0 with seven minutes left in the Round of 32, they roared back to win 3-2 in extra time through a Youri Tielemans brace and a Romelu Lukaku strike, in this very stadium.
ESPN notes that Belgium have been nowhere near their best at this tournament, riding their luck through the group stage, but they remain a squad full of gamechangers who can decide knockout matches on their own. Source: ESPN
Because this is a Round of 16 knockout match, there must be a winner. If the match is level after 90 minutes, extra time and penalties may be required.
Prediction: USA 2-1 Belgium
| USA vs Belgium TV Channels & Live Stream | ||
| Country / Region | TV Channel | Live Stream |
| Mexico | TelevisaUnivision, TV Azteca, TUDN listings | ViX, TUDN App, official broadcaster apps |
| United Kingdom | BBC / ITV listings | BBC iPlayer / ITVX |
| United States | FOX, FS1, Telemundo, Universo | FOX Sports, FOX One, Peacock, Fubo |
| Canada | TSN, CTV, RDS | TSN App, TSN+, CTV platforms, Crave |
| India | ZEE Network / DD Sports selected matches | ZEE5 / official platforms |
| Australia | SBS | SBS On Demand |
| France | M6, beIN Sports | 6play, beIN Connect |
| Spain | RTVE / Mediapro / DAZN listings | RTVE Play / DAZN / local platforms |
| Portugal | RTP, Sport TV | RTP Play, Sport TV Multiscreen |
| MENA / UAE / KSA | beIN Sports | beIN Connect / TOD |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | SuperSport, New World TV, StarTimes, Azam TV | DStv Stream, Showmax, StarTimes ON, Azam Max |
| South Africa | SuperSport, SABC listings | DStv Stream, Showmax |
| Zimbabwe | SuperSport / New World TV / local listings | DStv Stream / official platforms |
| Malaysia | Astro / local listings | Astro GO / official platforms |
| Indonesia | Emtek / SCTV / Indosiar / Moji listings | Vidio / official platforms |
| Broadcast rights can vary by country, language and platform. Check your local official broadcaster before kickoff. | ||
USA vs Belgium: Tactical Preview and Match Story
A host nation with belief against a golden generation running out of time — that is the story of Seattle on Monday night. The winner moves on to face Spain or Portugal at SoFi Stadium in the quarter-finals; the loser goes home.
Seattle Stadium suits this American team perfectly. Twice recognised as the loudest outdoor stadium in the world, it is where the USA already beat Australia 2-0 in the group stage, and tens of thousands of fans are expected to march to the ground from the waterfront before kickoff. The atmosphere will be everything Belgium do not want.
Pochettino's USA are built on energy and running power. Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams set the tone in midfield, Malik Tillman has been a revelation, and Christian Pulisic — still chasing his first goal of the tournament after shaking off a calf problem — carries the biggest attacking threat. Source: Seattle Sounders
Belgium are harder to read. Rudi Garcia's side won their group, but ESPN points out they could easily have lost both of their opening games and needed a Senegal collapse to survive the Round of 32. Yet with Kevin De Bruyne pulling strings, Jérémy Doku running at defenders and Lukaku scoring off the bench, they only need one moment. Source: ESPN
There is also recent history to consider. When these sides met in a friendly back in March, the USA led at half-time through McKennie before Belgium blitzed them with three goals in fifteen second-half minutes. Pochettino will have learned from that night — switching off after the break against this Belgian attack is fatal.
The USA's best route is to press high, play at full throttle and let the crowd carry them. Belgium's best route is to survive the storm, slow the tempo through De Bruyne, and trust their big-game experience when the match tightens up late.
USA and Belgium Team News
USA Team News: The biggest news is that Folarin Balogun is available. FIFA confirmed the striker's suspension for his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina was overturned, freeing the tournament's in-form American — three goals so far — to lead the line against Belgium. Source: FIFA
Behind him, expect the familiar spine: Matt Turner in goal, Chris Richards and Tim Ream marshalling the defence, Adams and McKennie in midfield, with Pulisic, Tillman and Tim Weah supplying the attack. Pulisic started against Bosnia after his calf scare and should be fit to go again.
Belgium Team News: Rudi Garcia can still call on three survivors of the 2014 win over the USA — Thibaut Courtois, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku — with Axel Witsel also in the squad. Lukaku has become a devastating super-sub, scoring in each of his last two matches, including the strike that sparked the Senegal comeback.
Garcia does have selection headaches. He substituted both De Bruyne and Doku in the 55th minute against Senegal and Belgium improved, while the midfield balance between Amadou Onana and Hans Vanaken remains unresolved after Vanaken struggled in the last round.
Key Battles
USA's press vs Belgium's ageing legs: Adams and McKennie will hunt De Bruyne and Tielemans from the first whistle. If the Americans win the midfield running battle, Belgium will spend the night defending.
Chris Richards vs Romelu Lukaku: Whether he starts or arrives off the bench, Lukaku's power is Belgium's most reliable weapon. Richards, Ream and the American back line cannot afford a single lapse.
Doku vs the American full-backs: Jérémy Doku's one-on-one dribbling is exactly the kind of threat that can silence a home crowd. Sergiño Dest and Antonee Robinson need help doubling up on him.
Final Prediction: USA 2-1 Belgium
