LATEST: USA vs. Belgium LIVE: World Cup 2026 updates
The co-hosts USA face Belgium in a FIFA World Cup round of 16 clash in Seattle on Monday evening, as they look to make the quarterfinals for the first time in 24 years.
Both these sides have already played in Seattle in this tournament before -- the USA beating Australia 2-0, while Belgium's group stage draw against Egypt and stunning round of 32 win against Senegal were both played at this ground.
Obviously, the big news for the USA from their comfortable win against Bosnia and Herzegovina came in the form of Folarin Balogun's suspension which was overturned. He is available to play Belgium.
Belgium have been nowhere near their best at this tournament so far, but are a squad filled with gamechangers in attacking areas, who can decide such knockout clashes on their own. So the USA will have to be wary of that, even if Belgium's performance levels at this tournament thus far suggest they might be heading into this one as underdogs.
Here's everything you need to know about Monday's game.
How to watch:
The match will be available on BBC One in the UK, Fox Sports in the U.S., Zee5 in India and SBS in Australia. You can also follow ESPN's live updates.
Key Details:
Date, kick-off time:
U.S. ET: 8 p.m. Monday, July 6
UK BST: 1 a.m. Tuesday, July 7
India IST: 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 7
Australia AEST: 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 7
Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle, USA
Referee: Adham Makhadmeh
Team News
USA: Freese; Ream, Richards, Freeman; A. Robinson, Dest; Adams, McKennie, Tillman; Pulisic, Balogun
Belgium: Courtois; De Cuyper, Ngoy, Mechele, Castagne; Raskin, Onana; Trossard, Tielemans, Lukebakio; De Ketelaere
Talking Points
Balogun suspension overturned
Folarin Balogun has scored three times at this World Cup so far, and has been superb up top for the USA. He's made the likes of Sergino Dest, Malik Tillman, Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic that much more effective.
His red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina was due to rule him out of the Belgium game but it was suspended, making him available, 24 hours before. A huge boost for the USMNT.
Lucky Belgium need to find extra gear
Belgium have been lucky so far. On another day, they could have lost both their opening group games against Egypt and Iran, which might have put them out of the tournament there. A Senegal meltdown handed them a way back in the round of 32 tie as well, when there really shouldn't have been one. Fortune has favoured Belgium thus far, but they've also been good enough to take those moments of fortune in their stride and get those results, when they've mattered.
Rudi Garcia has questions to answer, though, particularly ones surrounding his attacking selections. In the game against Senegal, he took both Jeremy Doku and Kevin de Bruyne off in the 55th minute, and Belgium looked a better side for it. There's also the debate surrounding Amadou Onana and Hans Vanaken in midfield, with the latter struggling after starting against Senegal.
If Belgium are as slow and sloppy as they were for much of the 90 minutes against Senegal, the USA surely will be optimistic of getting through to a first World Cup quarterfinal since 2002.