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Team USA didn’t get off to the first-half start they expected against Belgium in the round of 16, and coach Mauricio Pochettino showed some frustration about that.
Belgium sent a shock to the US system not even 10 minutes into the match when Charles De Ketelaere hit a served ball right in front of Matt Freese’s net and sent a quiet murmur over the sold-out Seattle Stadium crowd.
But things returned to normal when Malik Tillman, who scored a second-half free kick against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 32, did it again. Tillman buried his shot past legendary Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois thanks to a deflection from one of the Belgian defenders.
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Mauricio Pochettino, head coach of the United States 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, United States. (Jane Gershovich/ISI Photos)
That was in the 31st minute, but Pochettino’s show of frustration came after the United States conceded its second goal just two minutes later.
It was De Ketelaere once again, this time leaping over veteran defender Tim Ream and using his head to place the ball into the back of the net.
THANKS TO TRUMP, A RESTED US TEAM HAS THE MAXIMUM ADVANTAGE OVER A FURIOUS BELGIUM IN THE 2026 WORLD CUP
As Belgium celebrated, Pochettino approached his bench and let out his displeasure at what he had just witnessed on the field with a right-footed shot at the Powerade bottles on the ground.
That’s the kind of half it was for Team USA, which came into halftime with a lot to analyze before the second half began.
Mauricio Pochettino USA Manager/Head Coach during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Seattle, United States. (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA)
While possession was relatively close (Belgium owned 53% to the USMNT’s 47%), it was clear that the Belgians had the advantage on the offensive end. They finished the half with five shots on goal to just one for the U.S. They also created four big chances, meaning this match could have been much further away for the U.S. than the score indicates at this point.
The USMNT will need to play better all-around if they want to advance to the quarterfinals to face Spain and keep their World Cup title dreams alive. If they can do so, they would become just the second team in US history to do so, as only the 2002 team was able to reach the quarterfinals in this modern FIFA World Cup format.
Mauricio Pochettino USA Manager/Head Coach during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16 match between USA and Belgium at Seattle Stadium on July 6, 2026 in Seattle, United States. (Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA)
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Pochettino may let out more frustrations in the locker room, but it is clear that the manager will have to be smart with Belgium gaining momentum after the first 45 minutes.
