Belgium beats US 4-1 to reach World
Cup quarterfinals, taking advantage of defensive lapses
[July 07, 2026]
By RONALD BLUM
SEATTLE (AP) — Images told the story of the United States' World Cup
downfall.
Christian Pulisic sprawled on the field in agony after hurting an
ankle.
Matt Freese holding his hands on his head after his gaffe gifted a
goal.
Chris Richards crumpling to the ground, his face pressed on the
grass.
Mauricio Pochettino kicking a rack in front of the American bench,
sending four water bottles flying.
American hopes for a deep World Cup run at home ended when Charles
De Ketelaere scored twice and assisted on another goal, helping
Belgium expose the U.S. defensive liabilities in a 4-1 win Monday
night that earned a quarterfinal berth.
“It stinks,” Tyler Adams said. “This was a moment to have an
opportunity to advance and really try and do something special. We
fell short.”
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 Freese’s howler gave the Red Devils a third
early in the second half.
Second-half substitute Romelu Lukaku added Belgium’s final goal in
the third minute of stoppage time after Richards’ giveaway. The U.S.
hadn’t allowed that many goals in a World Cup game since a 5-1 loss
to Czechoslovakia in the Americans’ 1990 opener, when they returned
to soccer’s biggest stage after a 40-year absence.
“A very bad day,” said Pochettino, the U.S. coach. “It’s not like
you are in a rocket and you improve and you grow. ... It’s not
linear.”
This loss was a painful reckoning for a team that hoped to boost the
sport but instead failed to shake a quarter-century of stagnation
since 20-year-old Landon Donovan led the Americans to the 2002
quarterfinals. Since then, the U.S. has lost four times in the round
of 16.
“Everyone had nerves, right, because we knew how much this meant for
the whole country, not just our team,” said 21-year-old defender
Alex Freeman, the youngest U.S. player.
Belgium knocked out the U.S. in the round of 16 for the second time
in 12 years and extended 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.
“We showed that we’re ready and we want to perform,” captain Youri
Tielemans said.
All six CONCACAF nations have been eliminated, with the three
co-hosts falling in the round of 16.
Malik Tillman tied the score 1-1 midway through the first half when
he became the first player since France's Bernard Genghini in 1982
to have two free kick goals in a World Cup, but the Americans
conceded less than a minute after the ensuing kickoff.
American star Christian Pulisic could only watch the end from the
bench after injuring his right ankle when he hit Tielemans' boot on
a 52nd-minute shot attempt. Pulisic was replaced seven minutes
later, finishing the tournament with no goals.
“I didn’t quite have the moments I was hoping to and to try to help
us to really push and get over this next step of beating a really
good team,” he said. “I’m disappointed with myself, of course, but
I’m going to try and stay positive. I did a lot of good things and
the team did, as well.”
After winning three World Cup games for the first time in this
expanded 48-nation tournament, the U.S. lost its seventh straight
match to Belgium. The Americans have dropped 11 of their last 12
games against European opponents, winning only their round of 32
match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
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United States goalkeeper Matt Freese (24) reacts after Belgium
scores their third goal during the World Cup round of 16 soccer
match in Seattle, Monday, July 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
A heralded generation led by Pulisic, Adams and
Weston McKennie only partially accomplished their mission of lifting
soccer’s stature closer to that of the NFL, MLB and the NBA.
“A goal was obviously to inspire people that the sport was growing
in the U.S., which I think we saw. The support was unbelievable,”
Adams said. “In this moment we let them down.”
De Ketelaere put Belgium ahead in the eighth minute and Tillman’s
goal in the 31st energized a largely red-white-and-blue crowd of
66,925 at Lumen Field. 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.
“Obviously disappointed for my involvement and error in judgment on
the third goal,” Freese said.
Belgium, which didn't start stars Jérémy Doku as and Kevin De Bruyne,
pressed from the start and exposed a defense regarded as the
Americans’ weak spot.
Dodi Lukébakio made a long diagonal pass to the opposite corner,
leading to the opening goal. Leandro Troussard controlled the ball
and his cross was blocked by 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 Antonee Robinson and Tim Ream, at 38 the oldest
American ever in a World Cup, then with his right foot redirected
the ball into an open net.
Pochettino held out his arms, as if to ask: What was going on?
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 in the 33rd minute
for his eighth international goal.
Belgium built a two-goal lead when Mechele lofted a long 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.
Lukaku entered in the 67th minute and scored his 93rd international
goal.
Pochettino replaced Gregg Berhalter after first-round elimination at
the 2024 Copa America. His contract expires this summer and he
hasn't decided whether to stay through the 2030 World Cup.
Instead of focusing on Spain, Pochettino has a different near-term
agenda.
“To rest a little bit, to think, to have conversation,” he said,
“and then see what the decision is from the federation and from us.”
___
AP Sports Writer Andrew Destin and Associated Press writer Eugene
Johnson contributed to this report.
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