Belgium beats co-host USA to achieve quarterfinals

SEATTLE (AP) — America’ hopes for a deep World Cup run at home ended when Charles De Ketelaere scored twice and assisted on one other goal, helping Belgium expose the Americans’ defensive liabilities in a 4-1 win Monday night that earned a quarterfinal berth.

While the U.S. was boosted by the presence of star forward Folarin Balogun, whose one-game red-card suspension was controversially lifted by FIFA, American defenders were at fault in a pair of first-half goals and goalkeeper Matt Freese’s gaffe gave the Red Devils a 3rd early within the second half.

Second-half substitute Romelu Lukaku added Belgium’s final goal within the third minute of stoppage time after Chris Richards’ giveaway.

“Everyone saw from the start we didn’t connect with the sport,” said U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino, who showed his frustration after Belgium’s second goal by kicking a rack in front of the bench, sending 4 water bottles flying. “It’s a process to learn. We want to evaluate that game and we’d like to see why we didn’t approach the sport in the identical way that (we approached) the remainder of the World Cup.”

Searching for its first World Cup title, Belgium knocked the U.S. out within the round of 16 for the second time in 12 years and prolonged its unbeaten streak to 18 games. The Red Devils play 2010 champion Spain on Friday at Inglewood, California, for a semifinal berth against France or Morocco.

Malik Tillman tied the rating 1-1 midway through the primary half along with his second free kick goal of the tournament, however the Americans conceded just 61 seconds after the following kickoff.

United States’ Malik Tillman (17) reacts at the top of the World Cup round of 16 soccer match in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

American star Christian Pulisic could only watch from the bench after injuring his right foot when he hit a boot of Belgium captain Youri Tielemans on a 52nd-minute shot attempt. Pulisic favored his foot after that and was replaced seven minutes later.

After winning three games in a World Cup for the primary time on this expanded 48-nation tournament, the U.S. failed in its quest to achieve the quarterfinals for the primary time since 2002 and lost to Belgium for the seventh straight time since a victory on the initial tournament in 1930. The Americans have dropped 11 of their last 12 games against European opponents, winning only their round of 32 match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.

A heralded generation led by Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams only partially achieved their goal of lifting soccer’s stature closer to that of the NFL, MLB and the NBA.

De Ketelaere put Belgium ahead within the eighth minute, the primary time on this 12 months’s World Cup the U.S. conceded first.

Tillman’s goal within the thirty first minute energized a largely red-white-and-blue crowd of 66,925 at Lumen Field, but De Ketelaere damped that and assisted on Hans Vanaken’s 57th-minute goal after Freese lost control of the ball in front of his net.

All six CONCACAF nations have been eliminated, with the co-hosts U.S., Mexico and Canada falling within the round of 16. All quarterfinalists will come from Europe, Africa or South America, reinforcing the weakness of CONCACAF and Asia.

Belgium, which left stars Jérémy Doku and Kevin DeBruyne on the bench, pressed from the beginning and exposed a defense that was thought to be the Americans’ weak spot.

Belgium’s Hans Vanaken (20) celebrates after scoring his side’s third goal through the World Cup round of 16 soccer match between america and Belgium in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Dodi Lukébakio made a protracted diagonal pass to the alternative corner, resulting in the opening goal. Leandro Troussard controlled the ball and his cross was blocked by Alex Freeman and popped into the air.

Freeman headed the ball into the penalty area and Timothy Castagne charged after it and hooked a centering pass around Richards. De Ketelaere split Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson and along with his right foot redirected the ball into an open net.

Pochettino held out his arms, as if to ask: What was occurring?

Tillman scored after Brandon Mechele knocked down Balogun about 25 yards from goal. Tillman’s kick deflected off Vanaken’s head and deflected to the left of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who had dived right.

Troussard got around Sergiño Dest for a cross and De Ketelaere outjumped Ream and headed the ball past Freese within the thirty third minute for his eighth international goal.

Belgium built a two-goal lead when Mechele lofted a protracted ball that Freese chested after two hops. Freese hesitated with a touch, then scrambled and kicked the ball off De Ketelaere. Vanaken one-timed a shot from 35 yards that deflected in off Ream, who tried for an off-balance clearance.

Lukaku entered within the 67th minute and scored his 93rd international goal.

Vanaken replaced midfielder Amadou Onana midway through the primary half after Onana suffered what coach Rudi Garcia feared is likely to be a serious knee injury.