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Team USA’s run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has come to an end.
Belgium, in front of a sold-out crowd of Americans in Seattle, defeated the USMNT 4-1, in a match in which they took full advantage of their opponent’s mistakes.
Charles De Ketelaere was the man who not only scored just nine minutes into the game for Belgium, but his 39th-minute goal had Team USA coach Mauricio Pochettino kicking water bottles on the bench.
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Christian Pulisic of the United States during the first half against Belgium during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match at Seattle Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Seattle, United States. (Photos by John Todd/ISI)
The reason? Malik Tillman, who scored a free kick against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32 win in the Bay Area, took another just in front of the Belgium box, deflected it off a Belgian defender and layed it off legendary goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to tie the game at one apiece.
Momentum returned for the USMNT at that point in the 37th minute. But once again, the American defense resulted in an easy goal for De Ketelaere right in front of Matt Freese’s net.
US COACH MAURICIO POCHETTINO KICKS BOTTLES OF POWERADE FRUSTRATED AS THE TEAM’S FIRST HALF DEFENSE LOOKS THEMATIC
Freese, however, made a huge mistake in the second half that crushed the momentum that had been built while trailing by a goal.
In the 57th minute, there was a complete change in the game when Freese decided to leave his goal while De Ketelaere chased the pass. Freese was the first to arrive, but while trying to clear the ball, his foot got caught in the turf.
United States goalkeeper Matt Freese reacts after Belgian midfielder Hans Vanaken scored against him as Belgian players celebrate during the second half of a World Cup Round of 16 qualifying match between the United States and Belgium at Lumen Field on Monday, July 6, 2026 in Seattle, WA. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
In a desperate attempt, he tried to kick it with his right foot, but De Ketelaere got in the way and Hans Vanaken beat Freese and Ream, who couldn’t turn his body to save it for one of the worst goals allowed by a team in this World Cup.
Overall, it wasn’t Team USA’s best effort when they needed it most in the round of 16.
To make matters worse, Pochettino was forced to substitute Christian Pulisic, nicknamed “Captain America”, after an attempted shot resulted in an injury. Pulisic was kicked on the right foot when a Belgian defender stepped in front of him. Instead of kicking the ball, Pulisic hit the Belgian defender’s heel and he fell in clear pain.
Pulisic tried to execute it, but with a clear limp, Pochettino sent Sebastian Berhalter.
As for the bigger story of this match, Folarin Balogun being available after FIFA invoked Article 27 of its disciplinary code to suspend his red card was not a big factor for the team. Belgium did a good job of shoring up their defense and Balogun never had a clear look to find the back of the net like he has in previous matches.
The United States desperately tried to get back into the game, especially when Berhalter narrowly missed a pass past Courtois, but the ball went wide to the left. However, Belgium fulfilled their defensive duties and refused to allow what Senegal did to them in the round of 32: a miraculous second-half comeback.
Charles De Ketelaere of Belgium celebrates with teammate Dodi Lukebakio after scoring his team’s second goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between the United States and Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Instead, Romelu Lukaku, Belgium’s superstar striker, put the cherry on top of their victory with an injury-time goal past Freese in the second half. It was quite a statement in a game they dominated throughout.
As expected, it was a sad group for the United States after the defeat, while Belgium celebrated their place in the quarter-finals, where they will face Spain later this week.
