- Full Time
- 90 + 3'R. Lukaku
- H. Wright on for F. Balogun90 + 2'
- M. Arfsten on for A. Robinson90 + 2'
- 89'A. Witsel on for N. Raskin
- 89'A. Saelemaekers on for L. Trossard
- R. Pepi on for T. Adams72'
- M. Tillman69'
- 67'R. Lukaku on for C. De Ketelaere
- 67'J. Doku on for D. Lukébakio
- S. Berhalter on for C. Pulisic59'
- 57'H. Vanaken
- G. Reyna on for S. Dest46'
- Half Time
- W. McKennie35'
- 33'C. De Ketelaere
- M. Tillman31'
- 21'H. Vanaken on for A. Onana
- 9'C. De Ketelaere
- Kick Off
-
1
Charles De Ketelaere2 - 2
Malik Tillman1 - 3Romelu Lukaku1
- 1Leandro Trossard4
- 2Charles De Ketelaere3
- 3Folarin Balogun3
- 1Alex Freeman3
- 2Antonee Robinson3
- 3Nicolas Raskin3
- 1Charles De Ketelaere1
- 2Leandro Trossard1
- 3Nicolas Raskin1
- 1Charles De Ketelaere3
- 2Sebastian Berhalter2
- 3Maxim De Cuyper2
- 1Tim Ream81
- 2Chris Richards68
- 3Tyler Adams59
- 1Dodi Lukébakio6
- 2Giovanni Reyna2
- 3Alex Freeman2
- 1Malik Tillman2
- 2Alex Freeman2
- 3Charles De Ketelaere2
United States became the third and final host team to be eliminated from the 2026 World Cup as they were beaten 4-1 by Belgium in Seattle in the round of 16.
Two first-half goals from Charles de Ketelaere either side of a deflected Malik Tillman free-kick gave the Red Devils a half-time lead.
In the second half, Rudi Garcia’s men added a further two goals as a result of defensive mistakes with Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku the men to profit.
Belgium had the momentum from the off, drawing Matt Freese into a handful of saves in the first few minutes. And it didn’t take long for them to find the breakthrough.
Just moments after Youri Tieleman’s guilt-edged miss, Nicolas Raskin pounced on a loose ball and played a low cross into the six yard box where Charles de Ketelaere had ghosted between a handful of American defenders and was on hand to tap home.
On the half-hour mark and against the run of play, USMNT dragged themselves level. After Folarin Balogun was fouled on the edge of the box, Malik Tillman’s deflected free-kick – his side’s first shot of the game – wrong-footed Thibaut Courtois and flew into the net.
The parity lasted barely any time at all and it was De Ketelaere on hand again to find the net for Belgium. Leandro Trossard stood up a perfect cross from the left and the Atalanta forward got the better of Tim Ream in the air to nod in his second of the game.
The chances kept coming for the Red Devils before the break, the best of which fell to Dodi Lukebakio who met a Maxim De Cuyper free-kick with a diving header but could only aim it wide of Freese’s right post.
Belgium’s third came 12 minutes into the second half as a result of a terrible defensive mix-up when Freese came charging out of his box to meet a clearance. The keeper hesitated however, allowing de Ketelaere to get a tackle in and the ball landed at the feet of Hans Vanaken who guided his shot past the imbalanced Ream and into the far corner.
As the game stretched on, the hosts tried desperately to seek a way back in. Balogun had a good opportunity to test Courtois when he pounced on a mistake by Brandon Mechele, but the Monaco man fired his shot straight at the goalkeeper.
Belgium put the icing on the cake in injury-time. Chris Richards made an error in trying to play out from the back and Romelu Lukaku took full advantage by firing a low shot past Freese.
After some positive displays earlier in the tournament, this was a disappointing way for USMNT to exit the tournament For Belgium however, a remarkable quarter final with Spain awaits them despite having been so close to elimination themselves in their last game against Senegal.
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