With both Mexico and Canada falling in the round of 16, the United States is the last co-host country standing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Later tonight, at 8 p.m., the United States will be taking on Belgium in a round of 16 match to decide who will move on to the quarterfinals. For the United States, a win would mark the team’s best finish since at least 2002, hoping to advance even further. A win would also make this the first USA team to win two knockout stage matches ever.
Belgium is the toughest team that the United States has had to play against in the tournament thus far, as the nation is currently ranked as the 9th best in the world by FIFA. With star players ranging from Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois, it is no surprise that Belgium has established themselves as a dominant force in the tournament.
The United States, however, is walking into the game with one of its best squads in recent history and home field advantage. The game is being played at Seattle Stadium in Seattle, Washington. In addition to playing in their home country, the United States also recently got star player, Folarin Balogun, back after his red card from their previous match was overturned.
The last time that the United States reached the quarterfinals came during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, when the team won 2-0 against Mexico in the round of 16. Before then, the only other time that the United States advanced past the round of 16 came during the 1930 FIFA World Cup, the first rendition of the tournament.
For Belgium, success at the FIFA World Cup has become a constant, with the team reaching the quarterfinals in 2014 and finishing in third place in 2018. However, for some of the players that ushered in this “golden generation” for Belgium, including De Bruyne and Courtois, this may very well be their last shot at capturing a FIFA World Cup title.
The winner of tonight’s match will go on to face either Spain or Portugal, depending on which team wins their round of 16 matchup. Regardless of which team wins, it will create an even more difficult challenge, as those are two of the best teams in the entire tournament.
As both teams take the pitch, the pressure will be on, with only one team able to keep their journey alive at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For the United States, a win would mark a change in the country’s recent history of group stage exits and early knockout stage losses, while Belgium looks to continue the dominance led by some of the nation’s best players of all time, whose time with the team is running short.
Belgium and the United States have faced off seven times before, with two matches coming at a FIFA World Cup. Their first matchup in the tournament came at the 1930 FIFA World Cup, which saw the United States win 3-0. At their second meeting in the tournament, at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Belgium won by a score of 2-1. Belgium has historically outperformed in the United States, winning six of their seven matches.
With the United States as a host country for the tournament for the first time since 1994, this is one of the biggest matches in the country’s national team’s history. The team will look to build upon the momentum of Balogun’s return and reach levels that have not been seen for the United States in decades.
