The United States will look to make history on Monday when they face Belgium in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Lumen Field in Seattle.
The tournament co-hosts are just one victory away from reaching the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002, having booked their place in the knockout stage with an impressive 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Standing in their way is a talented Belgium side that topped Group G with five points before edging Senegal 3-2 in a thrilling Round of 32 encounter.
The Red Devils also hold a psychological advantage, having dominated recent meetings between the two nations. Belgium defeated the USA 5-2 in a friendly in March 2026, extending their winning streak over the Americans to six consecutive matches.
Team news
USA were due to be without the services of Folarin Balogun through suspension, with the striker sent off in his team’s 2-0 success over Bosnia-Herzegovina last time out.
However, on Sunday, it was revealed by FIFA that his one-game ban would be suspended following an intervention from US president Donald Trump.
As for Belgium, Zeno Debast (leg) remains a doubt, with the 22-year-old looking to recover from the issue which has sidelined him during the entire tournament to date.
Lukaku has scored twice in four appearances at this World Cup, but the 33-year-old is expected to again feature on the bench for the first whistle, before an almost certain appearance in the second half of the contest.
Possible lineups
USA possible starting lineup:
Freese; Freeman, Richards, Ream, Robinson; Tillman, Adams, McKennie; Dest, Balogun, Pulisic
Belgium possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Castagne, Theate, Mechele, De Cuyper; Vanaken, Tielemans; Trossard, De Bruyne, Doku; De Ketelaere
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport |
| Live Stream | DSTV stream |
| Kick-off Time | 01:00 (WAT) |
Match Predictions
Softfootball predicts USA 2-1 Belgium
