Preview: USA vs Belgium – Latest News, Predicted Line-ups, Team News | 2026 World Cup (07/07/2026)

Last update at 5 July, 2026⏲️ Reading time: 7 minutes

Round of 16 clash between USA and Belgium.

USA and Belgium face off in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

The United States face Belgium on Tuesday, July 7, at 01:00 BST in Seattle in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup.

The USA’s 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina ensured that all three host nations made it to the Round of 16 at the World Cup, and Mauricio Pochettino’s side are now lookin

Belgium will be the highest-ranked team the USA have faced at the tournament so far. The Belgians are also unbeaten across their four games, but haven’t been hugely convincing either, drawing against Iran and Egypt and twice trailing against Senegal before grabbing an extra-time winner.

As the competition begins to heat up, the winners of this game will face one of Portugal, Croatia, Spain or Austria in Los Angeles on Friday 10 July. This game is in Seattle, however, where Belgium find themselves already, while the USA will travel from San Francisco.

Latest news: absences, form, team news

The lack of travel may play in Belgium’s favour, but given the relatively short flight time this may be more than negated by the home crowd factor for the USA.

USA

The major concern for Mauricio Pochettino is the suspension handed to Folarin Balogun on Wednesday. What appeared to be a very harsh decision after a VAR review could prove costly for the host nation.

Celtic’s Austin Trusty remains a doubt after missing the Bosnia and Herzegovina win with an ankle injury. Meanwhile, Mark McKenzie and Cristian Roldan are back in training.

Belgium

Rudi Garcia appears to have no fresh injury concerns as Zeno Debast has returned to training following a leg injury. Lukaku was again vital from the bench against Senegal, so he may be tempted to hand the veteran a start.

Teams H2H: head-to-head stats

These nations have met five times previously, with Belgium holding a strong advantage. The Red Devils have won four of those encounters, while the USA have recorded one victory and there have been no draws between the sides.

The most memorable meeting came in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Round of 16, when Belgium eventually prevailed 2-1 after extra time in Salvador. Goalkeeper Tim Howard produced a World Cup-record 16 saves to keep the USA in the contest before Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku struck in extra time. Julian Green pulled one back for the Americans, but Belgium held on to progress.

Previous five meetings

28/03/2026: USA 2-5 Belgium (International Friendly)
01/07/2014: Belgium 2-1 USA (a.e.t.) – FIFA World Cup
29/05/2013: USA 2-4 Belgium (International Friendly)
09/09/2010: Belgium 1-0 USA (International Friendly)
13/07/1930: USA 3-0 Belgium (FIFA World Cup)

Predicted line-ups

As the tournament becomes more intense with most teams getting less rest between games than in the group stage, managers may be tempted to make small changes, but for most it will be about getting their best players on the pitch. For the USA the questions are whether Trusty will make it in time and who will replace Balogun, while Belgium may opt to start Lukaku.

Position	–USA	–Belgium
Goalkeeper	Matt Freese	Thibaut Courtois
Defenders	Alex Freeman Chris Richards Austin Trusty Antonee Robinson	Timothy Castagne Brandon Mechele Arthur Theate Maxim De Cuyper
Midfielders	Sergiño Dest Weston McKennie Tyler Adams Malik Tillman Christian Pulisic	Hans Vanaken Youri Tielemans Leandro Trossard Kevin De Bruyne Jeremy Doku
Forwards	Ricardo Pepi	Romelu Lukaku

Tactical analysis: can the USA exploit Belgium's vulnerabilities?

This Round of 16 clash promises to be one of the most intriguing ties of the knockout stage, pitting Mauricio Pochettino's energetic USA side against a Belgium team that needed a dramatic comeback and extra time to reach the last 16. The Americans arrive in Seattle with momentum after beating Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0, although the victory came at a cost as leading striker Folarin Balogun was sent off and will miss this match through suspension.

Without Balogun, Pochettino is expected to place even greater emphasis on pressing high up the pitch and attacking quickly through wide areas. Christian Pulisic remains the creative focal point, while midfielders such as Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman will be tasked with making late runs into the penalty area to compensate for the absence of a their star striker as a focal point. Pochettino has several options capable of filling the void, but replacing Balogun's movement and finishing will be one of the USA's biggest tactical challenges.

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Belgium, meanwhile, showed both their strengths and weaknesses in an extraordinary 3-2 extra-time victory over Senegal. Rudi Garcia's side were 2-0 down before mounting a late comeback, eventually winning thanks to a 125th-minute penalty from Youri Tielemans. While their attacking quality remains undeniable, defensive lapses and a vulnerability in transition have been recurring themes during the tournament.

The key battle could be in midfield. If Tyler Adams and McKennie can disrupt Belgium's rhythm and prevent Kevin De Bruyne from dictating possession between the lines, the USA will fancy their chances of unsettling a defence that has already shown signs of fragility. Conversely, if Belgium are able to control possession and bring their experienced attacking players into the game consistently, they have the technical quality to punish any mistakes.

Key players to watch

The spotlight will fall on Christian Pulisic for the USA and Kevin De Bruyne for Belgium, two players capable of deciding a knockout match with a single moment of quality.

Christian Pulisic (USA)

With Balogun suspended, even greater responsibility falls on the USA captain. Pulisic has consistently been his country's creative leader, combining direct running with intelligent movement and the ability to produce decisive moments in the final third. His pace on the counter-attack could prove particularly important against Belgium's ageing back line, while his delivery from set-pieces offers another valuable attacking weapon.

Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium)

Even at this stage of his career, De Bruyne remains Belgium's chief playmaker. His passing range and vision allow him to unlock compact defences, while his experience in major tournaments makes him invaluable in high-pressure knockout matches. If the USA cannot limit the Manchester City midfielder's influence, Belgium are likely to create a steady stream of chances.

Where to watch USA vs Belgium in the UK and Ireland

USA face Belgium at 01:00 (BST) on Tuesday, 7 July at Seattle Stadium in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16.

In the UK, the match will be broadcast on either BBC or ITV with the exact split of the knockout stage coverage yet to be announced.

In the Republic of Ireland, live coverage will be available on RTÉ2, with streaming also available through RTÉ Player where applicable.

Betting tips and predictions

Belgium head into the tie as marginal favourites despite their dramatic route to the Round of 16. The current 2026 World Cup odds the Red Devils favourites to qualify, reflecting their greater tournament experience, although the odds also acknowledge the USA's impressive performances under Mauricio Pochettino. The markets have shifted slightly following confirmation that Folarin Balogun will miss the match through suspension after his controversial red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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Goals are expected at both ends. Betting analysis points towards Both Teams To Score as one of the stronger angles, while markets also anticipate an open contest featuring more than two goals. Belgium's defensive issues against Senegal, coupled with the USA's aggressive pressing and attacking intent, have contributed to expectations of an entertaining knockout fixture rather than a cagey affair.

The player markets continue to favour Belgium's established attacking stars, although Pulisic is widely regarded as the USA's biggest threat in Balogun's absence. Combination bets centred around Belgium to qualify alongside Both Teams To Score are among the more popular selections, while correct-score markets generally lean towards a narrow Belgian victory in what is expected to be one of the closest Round of 16 ties.

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