No previous meetings between these teams.
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1
Folarin Balogun3 - 2
Romelu Lukaku2 - 3Leandro Trossard2
- 4Youri Tielemans2
- 5Malik Tillman1
- 6Giovanni Reyna1
- 7Auston Trusty1
- 8Sebastian Berhalter1
- 9Alex Freeman1
- 10Alexis Saelemaekers1
- 1Kevin De Bruyne18
- 2Leandro Trossard13
- 3Folarin Balogun11
- 4Maxim De Cuyper9
- 5Youri Tielemans9
- 6Malik Tillman7
- 7Weston McKennie5
- 8Dodi Lukébakio5
- 9Romelu Lukaku5
- 10Arthur Theate5
- 1Weston McKennie7
- 2Timothy Castagne6
- 3Malik Tillman5
- 4Youri Tielemans4
- 5Chris Richards3
- 6Alex Freeman3
- 7Tyler Adams3
- 8Charles De Ketelaere3
- 9Brandon Mechele3
- 10Alexis Saelemaekers2
- 1Malik Tillman1
- 2Sebastian Berhalter1
- 3Alex Freeman1
- 4Romelu Lukaku1
- 5Leandro Trossard1
- 6Christian Pulisic1
- 7Thomas Meunier1
- 8Nicolas Raskin1
- 9Hans Vanaken1
- 1Leandro Trossard16
- 2Kevin De Bruyne10
- 3Weston McKennie8
- 4Youri Tielemans7
- 5Hans Vanaken7
- 6Malik Tillman6
- 7Timothy Castagne6
- 8Sebastian Berhalter5
- 9Matias Fernandez-Pardo4
- 10Alex Freeman3
- 1Brandon Mechele309
- 2Chris Richards216
- 3Tim Ream201
- 4Youri Tielemans189
- 5Alex Freeman187
- 6Arthur Theate155
- 7Tyler Adams151
- 8Nathan Ngoy142
- 9Weston McKennie141
- 10Leandro Trossard141
- 1Leandro Trossard10
- 2Christian Pulisic8
- 3Sergiño Dest8
- 4Weston McKennie6
- 5Alex Freeman6
- 6Jérémy Doku6
- 7Antonee Robinson6
- 8Kevin De Bruyne6
- 9Malik Tillman5
- 10Charles De Ketelaere3
- 1Tyler Adams7
- 2Timothy Castagne7
- 3Weston McKennie6
- 4Malik Tillman4
- 5Chris Richards4
- 6Alex Freeman4
- 7Tim Ream4
- 8Antonee Robinson4
- 9Maxim De Cuyper4
- 10Auston Trusty3
United States- Mark McKenzie
- Cristian Roldan
- Chris Richards
- Miles Robinson
- Folarin Balogun
BelgiumNo absentees
The United States and Belgium meet in one of the Round of 16’s most compelling fixtures at the 2026 World Cup on Tuesday. Kick-off is scheduled for 1am (UK time) on Tuesday 7th July at Seattle Stadium, Lumen Field.
The USA topped Group D with six points and beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32, but arrive in Seattle facing their biggest challenge of the tournament – and without their most dangerous forward. Folarin Balogun was sent off late in the Bosnia game and misses Tuesday’s fixture through suspension, removing the nations top scorer from Pochettino’s attack. Belgium arrive having completed one of the tournament’s most remarkable comebacks, recovering from 2-0 down against Senegal with seven minutes remaining to win 3-2 in extra time. Monday’s fixture is a rematch of the classic 2014 encounter that Tim Howard’s extraordinary goalkeeping almost won for the USA. This time, the stakes – and the drama – may be even higher.
Portugal vs Spain predictions & betting tips
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Freese Over 3.5 saves | 8/5 @ Priced Up (38.5%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Freese faces the most difficult evening of his international career on Tuesday. Belgium arrive in Seattle with De Bruyne pulling the strings, Lukaku’s physicality and Trossard’s directness causing problems from wide areas. The Red Devils registered 18 shots across their four tournament appearances before this fixture and arrive fresh from dismantling Senegal in extra time. Without Balogun anchoring the USA’s attack and forcing Belgium to defend deeper, Garcia’s side will push forward in greater numbers. Freese kept a clean sheet against Bosnia but faced far less quality. Against a Belgium attack of this calibre, four or more saves across 90 minutes looks a highly compelling proposition. |
| Romelu Lukaku to score anytime and Belgium to qualify | 15/4 bet365 (21.1%) | ⭐⭐ | Lukaku scored the decisive goal in Belgium’s comeback against Senegal and arrives in Seattle in the form of his career at international level. The USA’s defence has not faced a striker of Lukaku’s physicality, aerial threat and finishing quality at this tournament – and without Balogun pressing and stretching the game from the front, America’s shape will sit deeper and invite Belgium pressure. Lukaku thrives when given a target to run in behind. Backing him to score and Belgium to advance makes this the most compelling combined selection of the Round of 16 stage. |
Odds correct at time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.
How both teams head into United States vs Belgium
United States
The USA have ridden their home crowd and collective team spirit to the Round of 16, and the atmosphere at a sold-out Seattle Stadium will carry enormous significance on Tuesday morning. Pochettino’s side opened the tournament with a devastating 4-1 win over Paraguay, backed it up with a controlled 2-0 win over Australia and beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32 despite the disruption of Balogun’s red card. Six goals scored without Balogun’s replacement even fully established makes the attack’s depth a genuine question for Tuesday.
Balogun’s suspension is the defining story of this fixture for the USA. He scored three goals in four appearances and his ability to hold the ball up, bring teammates into play and finish in tight areas gave Pochettino’s attack a completely different dimension. Without him, the USA must reshape their attack entirely. Ricardo Pepi is the most likely replacement, but the PSV striker has not featured prominently enough in the tournament to inspire widespread confidence.
The USA’s greatest strength has always been their pressing intensity – 300-plus high-intensity pressures in the group stage was among the tournament’s highest totals. That energy and collective effort will need to compensate for the loss of their top scorer. Christian Pulisic’s creativity and Tyler Adams’ defensive authority remain crucial. A raucous Seattle crowd will drive the hosts from the first whistle – and in knockout football, that intangible factor carries real weight.
Belgium
Belgium arrive in Seattle carrying the energy of one of the tournament’s greatest comebacks, but also the physical burden of extra time against Senegal. Rudi Garcia’s side were 2-0 down in the 83rd minute before goals from Lukaku, Tielemans and a Tielemans penalty – awarded after a VAR review in stoppage time – completed an extraordinary turnaround. The manner of that victory will define Belgium’s psychological approach going into Tuesday.
De Bruyne, Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois are all veterans of the 2014 classic against the USA in this very fixture – the only members of Belgium’s starting XI in Seattle who also started in that encounter. De Bruyne is 35 and carrying the accumulated wear of 10 seasons at the top of European club football, but his quality on the ball remains extraordinary. He has one goal at this tournament without an assist – numbers that significantly understate his creative influence.
Leandro Trossard has been Belgium’s most consistent wide attacker throughout – starting all four games and carrying a directness from the left that the USA’s full backs will need to manage throughout. Jeremy Doku offers a different type of wide threat from the bench with his pace and directness. Belgium have the superior individual talent and the tournament experience to go deep – but they must manage the physical effects of extra time and reset mentally for a USA side desperate to avenge 2014.
United States team news
Folarin Balogun serves a one-match suspension after his red card in the Bosnia game and misses Tuesday’s fixture. His absence is the single biggest team news story of the Round of 16 stage for any nation. Pochettino must restructure his attack entirely with the USA’s most clinical finisher unavailable.
Ricardo Pepi is expected to lead the line in Balogun’s absence. Matt Freese continues in goal behind a back four of Sergiño Dest, Chris Richards, Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson. Tyler Adams and Weston McKennie anchor the midfield, with Christian Pulisic and Malik Tillman providing attacking width and creativity.
Belgium team news
Garcia carries no significant injury concerns into Tuesday’s fixture beyond the physical effects of extra time against Senegal. Thibaut Courtois continues in goal behind a back four of Timothy Castagne, Arthur Theate, Brandon Mechele and Maxim De Cuyper. Hans Vanaken and Tielemans anchor the midfield with De Bruyne operating in his creative role ahead of them.
Trossard starts on the wing as Belgium’s most reliable attacking presence. Doku provides pace and directness from the opposite side. Lukaku leads the line and carries the goal-scoring responsibility that has defined his international career. Charles De Ketelaere has started three games but has yet to contribute a goal or assist – Garcia may assess whether to reshape his forward line ahead of Tuesday.
Head-to-Head
The USA and Belgium have met seven times, with Belgium winning six and the Americans claiming their only victory at the inaugural 1930 World Cup. The most recent meeting – a March 2026 warm-up friendly in Atlanta – ended 5-2 to Belgium, a result that demonstrated the class gap between the two sides in a low-pressure environment. The 2014 World Cup Round of 16 was a different story – Tim Howard’s record-breaking 16-save performance kept the USA alive until extra time, when De Bruyne and Lukaku broke American hearts. Both players take the field again in Seattle with the chance to repeat that heartbreak 12 years on.
Will either side find the result they need in the Round of 16?
The USA enter Tuesday’s fixture without their leading scorer but with a home crowd, collective intensity and the memory of 2014 driving them forward. Belgium arrive with superior individual quality, the momentum of a dramatic comeback and a squad built to win knockout matches at major tournaments. The winner faces Portugal or Spain in the quarter-finals.
We’re backing Matt Freese to be heavily involved in this match. 8/5 at Priced Up for Freese to register 3 or more saves reflects Belgium’s creative dominance and the pressure that the United States defence might have to face.
For a combined selection, Lukaku to score and Belgium to qualify at 15/4 at bet365 reflects the Red Devils’ individual superiority, Lukaku’s form and the USA’s inability to replace Balogun’s focal point threat from anywhere else in their squad.
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