Match 94: United States Men’s National Team vs. Belgium Men’s National Team
Date/Time: Monday, July 6, 2026, 5:00 p.m. PT / 8:00 p.m. ET
Venue: Lumen Field (Seattle Stadium), Seattle, Washington
Weather: Expect partly cloudy skies with temperatures around 68°F (20°C).
Broadcast: Fox (English) – Ian Darke, Landon Donovan, Tom Rinaldi; Telemundo (Spanish) – Andrés Cantor, Sammy Sadovnik, Ana Jurka
Radio: SiriusXM FC (English), Futbol de Primera (Spanish)
Officiating Crew: Referee: Clément Turpin (FRA); Assistant Referee 1: Nicolas Danos (FRA); Assistant Referee 2: Cyril Gringore (FRA); Fourth Official: István Kovács (ROU); VAR: Jérôme Brisard (FRA)
Kits: USMNT – White Home Kit; Belgium – Red Home Kit
It’s Matchday 94 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the United States Men’s National Team prepares for a monumental Round of 16 clash against Belgium at Lumen Field in Seattle. This encounter marks the USMNT’s fourth appearance in the tournament’s knockout stage in as many tries, and their first World Cup knockout game on home soil since 1994, when they famously fell to Brazil at Stanford Stadium.
The Stars and Stripes secured their spot in the Round of 16 with a commanding 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, a result that snapped a 12-match winless streak against European opposition, injecting a much-needed jolt of confidence into the squad. Their group stage campaign saw two wins against Paraguay and Australia, alongside a narrow 3-2 defeat to Türkiye where head coach Gregg Berhalter made nine starting lineup changes, indicating a tactical balancing act ahead of the knockout rounds.
USMNT vs Belgium H2H
| Opponent | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 17 | -11 |
The USMNT’s historical record against the Red Devils is a challenging one, with only a single victory in seven prior meetings. That sole win came in the inaugural 1930 World Cup, a 3-0 triumph in Montevideo, Uruguay, which still stands as the USMNT’s joint-largest margin of victory in World Cup history.
Since that distant win, Belgium has held the upper hand, securing six consecutive victories. The most recent encounters include a devastating 5-2 defeat for the USMNT in a pre-World Cup friendly in Atlanta earlier this year, a result that highlighted the Red Devils’ attacking prowess and punished American defensive errors, per The Sporting News. Before that, the teams met in the Round of 16 of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, a match Belgium won 2-1 after extra time, despite an iconic performance from then-USMNT goalkeeper Tim Howard, who recorded a World Cup record 16 saves.
USMNT Scouting Report
- Player Availability: No new injury concerns have been reported following the Bosnia and Herzegovina match. However, the coaching staff will be mindful of any accumulative fatigue given the quick turnaround in the knockout stages.
- Can the USMNT’s defense, which looked solid against Bosnia and Herzegovina, effectively contain Belgium’s potent attack, which netted five goals against them recently? Analysts have repeatedly cited that pre-World Cup friendly as a benchmark for how much the U.S. must improve defensively.
- Will Berhalter revert to his strongest XI after making significant rotations against Türkiye, or will he opt for a slightly more conservative approach given Belgium’s quality? The management of key players like Christian Pulisic could be crucial.
- How will the midfield battle unfold? Belgium’s midfield is known for its technical ability and high work rate; the USMNT will need to assert control to minimize Belgian creative opportunities.
Belgium Scouting Report
- Player Availability: Belgium enters the match with their main squad fully fit and available, having successfully navigated the group stage and Round of 32.
- Belgium topped Group G, ahead of Senegal, Colombia, and South Korea, showcasing their consistency. They then overcame Senegal 3-2 in extra time in the Round of 32, with a late winner in the 117th minute, demonstrating their resilience and clutch play, according to USA Today.
- Will Belgium continue their aggressive, high-pressing style, or will they adapt to counter the USMNT’s pace on the wings? Their pre-World Cup 5-2 victory suggests they are confident in their offensive power against the Americans.
- How will Belgium manage the atmosphere at Lumen Field, described by The Seattle Times as expected to be a heavily pro-US crowd? This is a significant factor, as Seattle is hosting its final World Cup match, making it a “showcase moment” for the city’s soccer culture.
