In pictures: Belgium knocks the USA out of the World Cup
Takeaways from today's game
• Belgium ends the USA’s dream: The summer of soccer love is over for the USA’s World Cup squad after losing 4-1 to Belgium. Two early goals from Charles De Ketelaere and some awful US defending allowed a third from Hans Vanaken. Romelu Lukaku added the final goal in the last seconds.
• Agonizing defeat: Many US players were in tears after the final whistle. Added to the embarrassment was the fact that much of the world will take joy in the US’ humiliation after the controversy over FIFA’s decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban following a red card in the Round of 32.
• Trump’s role: President Donald Trump said he had asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review Balogun’s red card, sparking accusations of the US president interfering in the tournament.
• What’s next: Belgium will advance to the quarterfinals and face Spain, who beat Portugal earlier today.
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"Today wasn’t a good day": Tyler Adams talks after USA eliminated
Talking to reporters in the mixed zone after the 4-1 defeat, the USA’s Tyler Adams was unsparing in his evaluation of the US team’s shortcomings in this match.
“There was a lot of things that we could have done better,” he said. “When you concede goals that easily against a team of that quality and that caliber, it’s going to be difficult.”
Asked specifically if the controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun’s suspended red card had any impact, Adams said he didn’t even know there was an appeal, and that the team found out Balogun would be allowed to play via the news breaking while on the bus to training.
As for Balogun barely factoring in the loss, “Was anyone a major presence on the field today?” Adams said of his team.
Ultimately, “Our initial reaction as a team was that, in this moment, we let them down,” Adams said of the support the USA has received from American fans during the World Cup.
FIFA could allow Folarin Balogun to play. Nothing could fix the USA's defense
FIFA’s obscure processes could restore the US’ best attacker into the lineup, but no amount of involvement from President Donald Trump, his administration, FIFA or anyone else could fix the team’s biggest weakness.
The American defense has been leaky and suspect for months, a fact conveniently forgotten as the USA attack flowed freely early in the tournament. There were warning signs blinking about the quality of the defenders for weeks and on Monday those prophecies were fulfilled.
Captain Tim Ream, who was beaten in the air for Belgium’s second goal that robbed the US of momentum after Malik Tillman had just equalized, was not exactly in the side for his current level of skill. The 38-year-old is a leader and an experienced player who was meant to keep the young players around him calm and composed. But when faced with Charles De Ketelaere, Ream couldn’t hang.
The Belgian forward escaped behind Ream for the first goal, finishing into an open net on a cross brought about because Ream’s teammates failed to deal with a ball dropping in the box. And for the second US goal, De Ketelaere outmuscled the American captain and outjumped him to head the ball past Matt Freese.
De Ketelaere again pressured Freese, deflecting the ball back to Hans Vanaken who had an open net to shoot at.
The USA got a favorable decision from FIFA and some will say they got a lot of help in Balogun being able to play. No amount of help could fix the Achilles heel of this team, and it came to the fore on Monday.
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Belgium's masterclass performance will be seen as justice by many
A lot of neutral observers will see this result as justice after two days of headlines alleging US President Donald Trump interfered in the sporting process around Folarin Balogun’s red card.
Belgian coach Rudi Garcia positioned his team as defending the entire sport against Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino on Sunday and set his team up to embarrass the USA. He didn’t play three of his best players – Romelu Lukaku and Jérémy Doku only entered when it was already 3-1 and Kevin De Bruyne never even came in – and instead organized his team to frustrate the US’ patented press.
It was clear that he wanted to prove a point after Trump grabbed the headlines earlier in the day by detailing his efforts to get FIFA to examine Balogun’s red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
His point was proved. His team’s account on X rammed the message home, simply posting: “Overturn this.”
The tournament will go on without the USA (or the other two co-hosts, which all went out at the Round of 16 stage), and FIFA can breathe a slight sigh of relief. There will be no questions around a deep run in the tournament for the USA, no asterisks around possible success for the US.
Instead, much of the rest of the soccer world will likely feel vindication – and more than a little bit of satisfaction at American humiliation on such a huge stage.
A solemn mood in the bowels of Lumen Field
Media members waiting to speak with some of the players are starting to crowd the designated area – typing on phones and softly whispering to one another.
It’s a big change from when the Americans beat the Aussies here in the group stage.
There was a buzz in this stadium then. Not now.
A massive moment for Belgium
The Red Devils are not the same team that they were in 2014 when they knocked the USA out in the Round of 16. They’re far from the team that finished third in this tournament in 2018 or went to the quarterfinals of the European Championships in 2016 and 2020.
That golden generation of players is largely gone, with just Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne still hanging around. For the first two games of this World Cup, it seemed like the sun had truly set on Belgium’s best years after dire draws with Egypt and Iran.
But a 5-1 thrashing of New Zealand woke them up and an incredible late comeback against Senegal on Wednesday, fighting back from a 2-0 deficit with two goals in the final five minutes and then an extra time penalty winner, made it clear that Belgium is no pushover.
And now after a 4-1 thrashing of the United States, the Belgians look like a totally different side than the one that started the tournament. De Bruyne didn’t even need to get into the game on Monday and Lukaku and midfielder Jérémy Doku didn’t come on until the game was already 3-1.
After looking listless and pedestrian in June, the Red Devils look dangerous in July. They have Spain next.
Heartbreaking scenes at the final whistle for the USA
Difficult scenes around Lumen Field, where the USA has just lost for the first time in its history.
Chris Richards and Weston McKennie are in tears on the field and on the bench, and the USA players are looking solemn as they gather at the center of the pitch.
The team gathers in a circle for one final talk from Mauricio Pochettino, who may have gotten his first real taste of what the USA is facing when it runs into the top sides in the world.
After the scenes on this field a couple weeks ago after the win over Australia, the jubilant singing of “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” the vibe could not be more different.
The USA's World Cup dream is over after losing 4-1 to Belgium
The impossible dream for the United States has proved to be just that as the USA crashes out of the World Cup with a 4-1 loss to Belgium.
Defensive weaknesses proved to be the USA’s undoing as two first half-goals from Charles de Ketelaere and a second-half strike from Hans Vanaken all came off defensive mistakes from the USA. A final goal from Romelu Lukaku was the dagger.
The USA got its goal from Malik Tillman on a first-half free kick, but the second goal from de Ketelaere came just a minute later and snuffed out the US’ momentum.
It’s a difficult end for the USA, which had looked so promising earlier in the tournament but could never quite reach that same level of performance on Monday.
Goal! Belgium 4, US 1
It’s a rout now as Romelu Lukaku adds a fourth in injury time and it’s 4-1 in favor of the Belgians with just seconds remaining.
Courtois comes up big against Balogun
US striker Folarin Balogun, who has spent the past few days under the microscope following his red card against Bosnia & Herzegovina, had a moment to shine as he brought down a long pass on the run and found himself in a 1 v. 1 with Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Balogun struck the ball well with his left foot, but Courtois was able to get enough of the ball to push it away and stymie another US scoring attempt.
The clock is approching midnight for the USA.
The USA is still "Alive"
An announced crowd of 66,925 gave a golf clap to themselves after the sellout was announced.
This was after the big screen showed Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, who played up the scene by downing a beer and placing the empty can on his head.
The crowd went nuts just like they did when substitute Sebastian Berhalter almost converted a screamer.
US needs something quick – less than 10 minutes to go in regular time.
Think Belgium wants to rub it in?
Manchester City’s attacking midfielder Jérémy Doku and Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku are entering the chat. Both are known to create and score goals.
Why would a team bring in offensive players when up two goals and presumably want to see this match out?
Well, this is the “FIFA allowed Folarin Balogun to play” game and Belgium just may want to prove a point.
USA struggling to convert possession into opportunities
As the midway point of the second half arrives, and the need for goals becoming desperate, the USMNT remains unable to crack the Belgian defense.
USA is enjoying plenty of possession and continues probing for weakness, but the European giants are unflinching in the final third, and all of the US possession isn’t equating to scoring chances.
With 20 minutes and stoppage time remaining, it’s going to take a special effort from the Americans to prolong their World Cup dream.
Mauricio Pochettino is throwing everything at it now, putting in striker Ricardo Pepi in for Tyler Adams as the USA tries to get the ball in the net.
A teary Christian Pulisic is out of the game with US trailing by two
In the 59th minute of what will, barring a remarkable comeback, be the USA’s last game in the 2026 World Cup, Christian Pulisic was substituted out with an apparent injury.
The star forward kicked the heel of a defender early in the second half and was left limping.
He hardly touched the ball in the first half and has been limited in his availability in the World Cup, missing the US game against Australia in the group stage after being injured against Paraguay in the opener. He did not score a goal in the tournament.
Pulisic was seen overcome with emotion on the sidelines, seemingly crying into his kit.
The big Belgian players are coming in
As we alluded to earlier, three key Belgians were still on the bench. Two of them are coming on now.
Romelu Lukaku and Jérémy Doku are coming in despite their side’s two-goal advantage, with the Red Devils perhaps looking to make a statement here.
There will be be plenty of opportunities for the two attacking stars as the US tries to push to get back into this game. A worrying moment for the USA.
Mauricio Pochettino is miffed
The US manager is in disbelief, as are the American supporters after Christian Pulisic was cut down with no foul called.
The US’ Argentine manager twice had his arms stretched out asking why his team wasn’t getting calls after what appeared to be overly aggressive defenders.
And now, without the free kicks given and Belgium tacking on a third goal, this crowd has lost its full-on edge.
Those that were previously standing are now sitting down.
The US need a spark – and quick. Maybe it will be Sebastian Berhalter, who has replaced Christian Pulisic.
Goal! Belgium 3, US 1
It’s a disaster for the USA as Belgium takes advantage of more leaky USA defending to take a two-goal lead.
It’s gone from bad to worse to worst for the USA. With Christian Pulisic limping around the pitch, the US is essentially a man down. A long ball comes over the top and goalkeeper Matt Freese comes out to play it – outside of the box.
He can only play it with his chest as De Ketelaere charges at him and it’s not enough. The Belgian wins the ball and passes it to Hans Vanaken, who hits it from long range into the US net.
It’s a heartbreaker for the USA and proof that their Achilles’ heel – a weak defense – is coming to the fore at the worst moment.
The USA has one half to prove that it has arrived
After an opening 45 minutes that was at some times exciting, at other times frustrating – and on more than one occasion, embarrassing – the USA still has one more half remaining to show the world that it deserves a place in the global soccer discussion.
US manager Mauricio Pochettino’s lone halftime substitution was to replace Sergiño Dest, who was unremarkable in the first half, with dynamic attacking player Gio Reyna, who has the skill to drive opposing defenses mad.
In the opening minutes of the second half, the US is showing a sense of urgency that was absent to start the first half.
The second half is underway
Here we go: 45 minutes to save a historic World Cup campaign for the USA.
The ball is kicked and we are back in Seattle at Lumen Field.
One major substitution for the US – Gio Reyna is on for Sergiño Dest.
Belgium still has 3 bona fide stars to deploy
The ninth best team in the world, according to FIFA, have a fearful trio yet to see the pitch tonight.
Midfield maestro Kevin De Bruyne, attacking midfielder Jérémy Doku and hard-to-handle Romelu Lukaku would represent a problem for a US team that has struggled to cope with the Belgians on the field thus far.
But Belgium are up 2-1 and will likely feel great about the team’s defensive clinic in the first half. No real reason to bring in proven offensive mights.
Unless of course you have a point to prove.
And want to step on the throat of an opponent against whom you may have an axe to grind,
