{"id":151303,"date":"2026-07-06T20:58:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T23:58:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live-world-cup-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-07-06T20:58:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T23:58:31","slug":"usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live-world-cup-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live-world-cup-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live | World Cup 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"liveblog-body\"><span class=\"dcr-1wrshbb\"><gu-island name=\"KeyEventsCarousel\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;keyEvents&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;6a4c3d6e8f08005e57694036&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;The on-field crew is from Jordan, with &lt;strong&gt;Adham Makhadmeh &lt;\/strong&gt;taking the whistle. VAR lead is &lt;strong&gt;Khamis Al Marri &lt;\/strong&gt;of Qatar.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;f36e6f3c-29ff-449d-9b92-d00f9a43b2cd&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Makhadmeh is also part-Bosnian.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;42394e0d-56dc-47bc-8333-6861dd9da774&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;In this &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football&quot; data-component=&quot;auto-linked-tag&quot;&gt;World Cup&lt;\/a&gt;, he was the center referee for Spain 0-0 Cape Verde, New Zealand 1-5 Belgium, and England 2-1 DR Congo.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;da1064b9-2f71-40fe-9507-804d2730b256&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The weather in Seattle &lt;\/strong&gt;is warm but not &lt;em&gt;too &lt;\/em&gt;warm. It\u2019s 80 degrees (27 Celsius) with a light breeze and 43% humidity, which is better than a lot of venues we\u2019ve seen in this World Cup.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;53e320a3-f24c-4f89-8e27-848af1f43d6f&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;So the weather shouldn\u2019t be a factor.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;b6e41337-f237-4d52-80a6-340f8ca9229f&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1783381358000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;00.42\u00a0BST&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1783381963000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;00.52\u00a0BST&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1783381963000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;00.52\u00a0BST&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;00.52&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Referees and weather&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Tue 7 Jul 2026 00.53 BST&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Mon 6 Jul 2026 22.33 BST&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;6a4c2f268f082e0d28ed5d3a&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;No surprises for the USA. &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/belgium&quot; data-component=&quot;auto-linked-tag&quot;&gt;Belgium&lt;\/a&gt; moves Kevin De Bruyne, among others, to the bench.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;92d05bed-78e1-410f-bf5f-4981d3358cdc&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;USA: &lt;\/strong&gt;Freese; Ream, Richards, Freeman; A. Robinson, Dest; Adams, McKennie, Tillman; Pulisic, Balogun&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;9f60ac14-6859-490b-96c1-21c4d8a29817&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Belgium: &lt;\/strong&gt;Courtois; De Cuyper, Ngoy, Mechele, Castagne; Raskin, Onana; Trossard, Tielemans, Lukebakio; De Ketelaere&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;d182ced1-2ac1-4627-b248-abacf91cca93&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Changes for Belgium from the 3-2 win over Senegal:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;1b118808-6312-4741-8bf6-dc1b7c48c5a1&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;ul&gt;n &lt;li&gt;n  &lt;p&gt;At the back, Ngoy replaces Theate&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;n &lt;li&gt;n  &lt;p&gt;Elsewhere: Raskin, Onana and Lukebakio are in; De Bruyne, Theate, Raskin and Doku are out&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;n&lt;\/ul&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;809807cf-e5c7-4a80-90ff-26c98c8fd079&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Cristian Roldan is unavailable due to injury.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;c9215611-79c0-4a25-93d9-ceff0ac7d525&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1783377702000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;23.41\u00a0BST&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1783378396000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;23.53\u00a0BST&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1783378396000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;23.53\u00a0BST&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;23.53&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Lineups&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Tue 7 Jul 2026 00.53 BST&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Mon 6 Jul 2026 22.33 BST&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;6a4c29b48f082e0d28ed5d1e&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;The US team and this &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football&quot; data-component=&quot;auto-linked-tag&quot;&gt;World Cup&lt;\/a&gt; as a whole have done a remarkable job winning over a skeptical country, if not a skeptical &lt;em&gt;world&lt;\/em&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;f0a275b6-bf77-4548-9f94-9b62b2dec0eb&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Fifteen months ago, some Guardian writer noted that the US men\u2019s team was underachieving &lt;em&gt;and &lt;\/em&gt;unlikeable. They weren\u2019t lovable, scrappy underdogs out to gain respect for their team on the world stage and gain respect for their sport in the &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/usfootballteam&quot; data-component=&quot;auto-linked-tag&quot;&gt;USA&lt;\/a&gt;. They were aloof representatives of a country going through a politically fraught period.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;6fe5e09f-c3ae-4506-88f5-c008c437e000&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;The US men\u2019s national team aren\u2019t just underachievers; they\u2019re unlikeable | Beau Dure&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;bd444118-6bbc-4f31-b855-f0b56acdfabc&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;thumbnail&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2025\/apr\/02\/usmnt-nations-league-unlikeable&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Then the games started. Talk of visa woes gave way to feel-good stories of foreign visitors feeling welcome. (Iran\u2019s national team may beg to differ.)&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;0c7d1b21-a9d0-4c30-83fa-ef5c0d4e6183&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;And the USA looked \u2026 good? They demolished Paraguay, a feat that looks all the more impressive after the South American side knocked out Germany and took France to the wire. They were clinical against Australia. Sure, they lost to Turkey, but they played an entertaining game with the B-side, having already clinched the group.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;10fe98a3-e4f5-4d5f-b4bc-83b0d431d77a&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;The win over Bosnia and Herzegovina was a team-defining moment. The knock on this team had long been that they had the talent but not the grit \u2013 hence the tendency of losing to Panama. This game showed they had both.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;bcc943b0-d5fc-4331-a027-b0c8f0b64bf9&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;So bring on &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/belgium&quot; data-component=&quot;auto-linked-tag&quot;&gt;Belgium&lt;\/a&gt;, right? Sure, they\u2019ll be missing Balogun, but it\u2019s probably a 50-50 shot at their first quarterfinal appearance in 24 years.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;9c746125-1b02-4e3b-86bf-f61268fd8b47&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Then \u2026&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;222db457-b73d-4e27-b57c-045124093198&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Trump confirms he asked Infantino for review of Folarin Balogun red card&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;64ea318a-2d86-4522-9beb-aae2b99d32cc&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;thumbnail&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/06\/trump-fifa-balogun-red-card-review-intervention&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;So now, this team that had strived to overcome its image issues (a couple of recent documentary series helped as well) is inexorably tied to a president who is disliked by roughly three-fifths of the USA and quite a few people worldwide.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;39a7a5cd-caaa-42b1-b6d7-81449798ed4a&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;And US fans can\u2019t really feel good about the way this happened. Sure, the red card was questionable \u2013 it\u2019s still being debated. It may depend on which you value more \u2013 the Laws of the Game or the laws of physics, which dictate that Balogun was stumbling and had to put his foot down somewhere, levitation having not yet been invented.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;969bd3a9-12fd-4c48-a199-e9a6c39839b9&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;My social media feeds are full of people who have gone from wholeheartedly supporting this team to \u2026 not exactly rooting &lt;em&gt;against &lt;\/em&gt;them but certainly feeling a bit more lukewarm about the whole thing.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;4f1b7c7c-20fd-4e84-b42e-f58e9cadf93d&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Which leads to an email request:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;e4041f8d-054e-4950-8957-26564873450f&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;I expect I\u2019ll be flooded with email before and during the game. You can help me out by using specifics in your subject line.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;e0fa14fe-2f8d-4365-9707-19195fabacd1&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Some examples:&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;367a7cff-4e3b-49f7-b462-1b7ac342104f&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;ul&gt;n &lt;li&gt;n  &lt;p&gt;\u201cUnhappy but still supportive\u201d&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;n &lt;li&gt;n  &lt;p&gt;\u201cRooting for Belgium now\u201d&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;n &lt;li&gt;n  &lt;p&gt;\u201cThe red card was wrong in the first place and Brazil 1962 blah blah\u201d \u2013 OK, don\u2019t use that one.&lt;\/p&gt;&lt;\/li&gt;n&lt;\/ul&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;24b26b11-fcb8-44d6-bd68-1bbadc245f1d&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;You get the idea.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;c0eccd67-3583-499f-85f3-11c265a1a7bb&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Looking forward to hearing from everyone.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;4eed801b-315c-4519-b21d-046b0bcb54ba&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1783376308000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;23.18\u00a0BST&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1783377258000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;23.34\u00a0BST&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1783377259000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;23.34\u00a0BST&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;23.34&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Preamble II: The controversy (and a mailbag note)&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Tue 7 Jul 2026 00.53 BST&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Mon 6 Jul 2026 22.33 BST&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;6a4c26688f082e0d28ed5d10&quot;,&quot;elements&quot;:[{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;In a more perfect world, we would be looking at a fascinating matchup between two teams that have been saddled with a \u201cGolden Generation\u201d tag.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;d651fc4a-792f-449e-8fa6-485d6863c0f4&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Belgium\u2019s \u201cGolden Generation\u201d more or less lived up to expectations, reaching the 2014 &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football&quot; data-component=&quot;auto-linked-tag&quot;&gt;World Cup&lt;\/a&gt; quarterfinals (defeating the USA in the Round of 16 \u2013 we\u2019ll get to that) and taking third place in 2018. The players \u2013 especially &lt;strong&gt;Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Axel Witsel, Jan Vertonghen, Vincent Kompany&lt;\/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Eden Hazard&lt;\/strong&gt; - all had glittering club careers. Lukaku, De Bruyne, Witsel and Courtois are still in the squad.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;ca55e107-ae4c-4948-8462-e6d4b19d17d0&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;The first inklings of \u201cGolden Generation\u201d in the &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/usfootballteam&quot; data-component=&quot;auto-linked-tag&quot;&gt;USA&lt;\/a&gt; appeared when &lt;strong&gt;Christian Pulisic&lt;\/strong&gt;, already being hyped as a generational talent on par or better than &lt;strong&gt;Landon Donovan&lt;\/strong&gt; or &lt;strong&gt;Clint Dempsey&lt;\/strong&gt;, jumped into World Cup qualifying as a teenager. That team shockingly failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. But Pulisic is the only young player from that qualifying cycle who is on the US roster today. The only other player still around, oddly enough, had already passed 30 when qualifying ended \u2013 defender &lt;strong&gt;Tim Ream&lt;\/strong&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;df74e912-eab6-49bf-8246-a45e3baa0426&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;More players soon emerged from Major League Soccer clubs\u2019 nascent youth programs, such as &lt;strong&gt;Weston McKennie&lt;\/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Chris Richards&lt;\/strong&gt; from FC Dallas, and &lt;strong&gt;Tyler Adams&lt;\/strong&gt; and &lt;strong&gt;Timothy Weah&lt;\/strong&gt; from the New York Red Bulls. (Later: &lt;strong&gt;Alex Freeman&lt;\/strong&gt; from Orlando City.) All of them followed Pulisic to Europe at a young age and have had moderately successful careers \u2013 not on the level of a De Bruyne or a Kompany but solid contributors on top European sides.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;55788283-871e-45d9-99d0-f0e4120456b8&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Others joined from the time-honored pipelines that have supplemented the US national team through the years - players born and developed in Europe but eligible for US citizenship. &lt;strong&gt;Sergi\u00f1o Dest&lt;\/strong&gt; from the Netherlands. &lt;strong&gt;Malik Tillman&lt;\/strong&gt; from Germany. A&lt;strong&gt;ntonee Robinson&lt;\/strong&gt; from England. And most recently, &lt;strong&gt;Folarin Balogun&lt;\/strong&gt; from England. (See Preamble II in a few minutes.)&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;9fac7512-99d8-454c-9ac4-5d7fb96982f2&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Both teams got here with gutsy performances in the Round of 32. &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/belgium&quot; data-component=&quot;auto-linked-tag&quot;&gt;Belgium&lt;\/a&gt; trailed Senegal 2-0 in the 85th minute. The USA dug deep to hang on to a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina despite a red card to Balogun. (We\u2019ll get to it!)&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;5b504c44-8b4e-42b8-ab71-cbb072ae7f76&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;And yes, it\u2019s a rematch of the 2014 round of 16 game in which the USA took Belgium to extra time thanks to &lt;strong&gt;Tim Howard&lt;\/strong&gt;\u2019s instantly memed 16 saves. It would be a stretch to say the USA played well enough to merit a victory in that game, but they did have a chance late in regulation that would have netted them an improbable quarterfinal berth.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;229736a1-476e-4588-96ce-10436a5b535f&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.VideoYoutubeBlockElement&quot;,&quot;source&quot;:&quot;YouTube&quot;,&quot;originalUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2nRWf4sZczU&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Tim Howard saves the day. And many others.&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;84e43bb8-b111-4093-831a-c01c20a1eaf3&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:854,&quot;embedUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/2nRWf4sZczU?wmode=opaque&amp;feature=oembed&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=2nRWf4sZczU&quot;,&quot;height&quot;:480,&quot;sourceDomain&quot;:&quot;youtube-nocookie.com&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;#ThingsTimHowardCouldSave - Top 10 Tim Howard Memes! | Belgium 2-1 United States 2014 World Cup&quot;,&quot;isThirdPartyTracking&quot;:false},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;That chance wasn\u2019t a \u201csitter.\u201d Get off &lt;strong&gt;Chris Wondolowski&lt;\/strong&gt;\u2019s back. The guy had a great career.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;cfae217a-6557-4278-b0db-8ea61d63485b&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;So it\u2019s the kind of matchup that makes the World Cup great. This game could end with Belgium claiming their third quarterfinal berth in four World Cups. Or it could be one of the biggest wins in US history.&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;7051f108-2d1e-434d-9f52-fc5976417ab8&quot;},{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;&lt;p&gt;Exciting, isn\u2019t it? Now ... did something happen to upstage these compelling storylines?&lt;\/p&gt;&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;3b1a86ec-d6f2-4246-9b0e-778daf73ac09&quot;}],&quot;attributes&quot;:{&quot;pinned&quot;:false,&quot;keyEvent&quot;:true,&quot;summary&quot;:false},&quot;blockCreatedOn&quot;:1783375464000,&quot;blockCreatedOnDisplay&quot;:&quot;23.04\u00a0BST&quot;,&quot;blockLastUpdated&quot;:1783376259000,&quot;blockLastUpdatedDisplay&quot;:&quot;23.17\u00a0BST&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublished&quot;:1783376259000,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplay&quot;:&quot;23.17\u00a0BST&quot;,&quot;blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone&quot;:&quot;23.17&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Preamble I: The game&quot;,&quot;contributors&quot;:[],&quot;primaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;Tue 7 Jul 2026 00.53 BST&quot;,&quot;secondaryDateLine&quot;:&quot;First published on Mon 6 Jul 2026 22.33 BST&quot;}],&quot;id&quot;:&quot;key-events-carousel-mobile&quot;,&quot;renderingTarget&quot;:&quot;Web&quot;,&quot;serverTime&quot;:1783382308255}\"><span id=\"key-events-carousel-mobile\"\/><span class=\"dcr-1wrshbb\"><\/p>\n<p>Key events<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/gu-island><\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c3fe68f08005e57694047\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\"\/>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Timely from <strong>Peter Rehwaldt: <\/strong>\u201cAs a pastor, I have to say \u2018God help the referee for USA v Belgium.\u2019 It\u2019s not as if referees don\u2019t get a lot of scrutiny in ordinary matches. It\u2019s not as if referees don\u2019t get more scrutiny in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">World Cup<\/a> matches. But this is the Geopolitical World Cup (hat tip to someone at The Guardian), and never has it lived up to that moniker than in the last few days. Meanwhile, there\u2019s an officiating crew putting on their gear tonight, testing their microphones and cameras, unfurling their flags, and wondering what the hell they are walking into.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>Hey, they should try reffing U-13 between Springfield and Arlington.<\/em><\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c3fe68f08005e57694047&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c3fe68f08005e57694047&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c3fe68f08005e57694047#block-6a4c3fe68f08005e57694047\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container ad-slot-desktop dcr-73ci1u\"\/>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container dcr-73ci1u\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c3d6e8f08005e57694036\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1pxv6ha\">Referees and weather<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The on-field crew is from Jordan, with <strong>Adham Makhadmeh <\/strong>taking the whistle. VAR lead is <strong>Khamis Al Marri <\/strong>of Qatar.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Makhadmeh is also part-Bosnian.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">World Cup<\/a>, he was the center referee for Spain 0-0 Cape Verde, New Zealand 1-5 Belgium, and England 2-1 DR Congo.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>The weather in Seattle <\/strong>is warm but not <em>too <\/em>warm. It\u2019s 80 degrees (27 Celsius) with a light breeze and 43% humidity, which is better than a lot of venues we\u2019ve seen in this World Cup.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">So the weather shouldn\u2019t be a factor.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c3d6e8f08005e57694036&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c3d6e8f08005e57694036&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c3d6e8f08005e57694036#block-6a4c3d6e8f08005e57694036\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c3d1a8f082e0d28ed5d89\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\"\/>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>These teams met in March <\/strong>\u2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">And the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/usfootballteam\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">USA<\/a> took a solid 1-0 lead. Then lost 5-2.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"39c48a8d-4f68-45af-9305-6ab2bef4e8f9\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:2,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Rampant Belgium deliver 5-2 embarrassment to USA in World Cup tune-up&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;39c48a8d-4f68-45af-9305-6ab2bef4e8f9&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/mar\/28\/belgium-usmnt-friendly-match-report&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c3d1a8f082e0d28ed5d89&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c3d1a8f082e0d28ed5d89&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c3d1a8f082e0d28ed5d89#block-6a4c3d1a8f082e0d28ed5d89\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c3c128f08bbcbdee6dc1b\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\"\/>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Following up on the matchup: <\/strong>If we learned one thing from the USA-Turkey game, it\u2019s that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/usfootballteam\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">USA<\/a> aren\u2019t as deep as people had hoped. If Tim Ream runs out as gas in the 102nd minute, the options aren\u2019t great. So running a fresh De Bruyne and Doku against what may be a tired three-man backline (unless Robinson \u2013 or, less likely, Dest \u2013 spend some time back there) does sound terrifying from a US perspective.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c3c128f08bbcbdee6dc1b&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c3c128f08bbcbdee6dc1b&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c3c128f08bbcbdee6dc1b#block-6a4c3c128f08bbcbdee6dc1b\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c3bac8f08bbcbdee6dc19\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\"\/>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Oh yeah \u2026 the game \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Rick McGahey: <\/strong>\u201cCan we give the red card fiasco a rest, granting that both FIFA and the Trump administration are about as corrupt as you can imagine. How will the US cope with de Bruyne and Tielemans in midfield and with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/belgium\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Belgium<\/a> speed on the wings, especially Doku, who will give Freeman the time of his life out there. If Dest has to drop back and provide defensive help that will weaken the US going forward, but they need to go forward fast and wide and not let the midfield get clogged up and of course we are facing the best goalkeeper in the world. There\u2019s a lot going on with this game so let\u2019s just drop everyone saying everything about the red card which has already been said.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>You\u2019re figuring De Bruyne and Doku will come in during the second half, I guess, which is probably a safe bet unless there\u2019s an injury we don\u2019t know about.<\/em><\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c3bac8f08bbcbdee6dc19&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c3bac8f08bbcbdee6dc19&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c3bac8f08bbcbdee6dc19#block-6a4c3bac8f08bbcbdee6dc19\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container dcr-73ci1u\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c399a8f08005e57694021\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\"\/>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>An impromptu Q&amp;A<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Jim Forrester: <\/strong>\u201cThank you for posting Alexander Abnos\u2019 article from two days ago. I wonder if he feels the same way now? I\u2019m a U.S. fan and live in Seattle, but I\u2019m so appalled by the decision to reinstate Balogun that I can\u2019t help but hope <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/belgium\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Belgium<\/a> win. I think the U.S. could have won without Balogun, but now any victory or progress in the tournament would have the stench of corruption. So disappointed&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Alex responds: <\/strong>\u201cA good question. I\u2019ve considered the same thing in the 36 hours or so since the Balogun news dropped and all the subsequent details were revealed. And ultimately, I think I feel the same way. This government action was obviously not on par with any of the numerous atrocities committed over any number of years \u2013 but it is the same in the sense that no US soccer fan was really asking for it. And while I understand why Balogun\u2019s inclusion and his potential influence in the game will not sit right with a lot of people, I still think the joy-producing moment he could be responsible for is still important and worth savoring and defending. So, short answer: I stand by it. But more shakily than before.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"87d923a4-31f2-4715-bfb9-7a4f888633c7\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:3,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Some Americans are reluctant to cheer for the US at the World Cup. They shouldn\u2019t be | Alexander Abnos&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;87d923a4-31f2-4715-bfb9-7a4f888633c7&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/04\/some-americans-are-reluctant-to-cheer-for-the-us-at-the-world-cup-they-shouldnt-be&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>As for my piece from 15 months ago: <\/strong>I think the documentaries on the US team effectively humanized them. They came across as a likeable bunch. They steered clear of politics for the most part, but there was an unsubtle reference to how the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/usfootballteam\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">USA<\/a> have benefited from this country\u2019s history as a melting pot. So the question as I see it is more along the lines of whether you think these accidental villains should succeed in reaching the pinnacle of their lives\u2019 quests (well, maybe they\u2019d want to win three more games) or whether the injustice of it all is too much to bear.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"a68692bd-ccd6-47ae-ba2f-a35ad11a1d97\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:5,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;The US men\u2019s national team aren\u2019t just underachievers; they\u2019re unlikeable | Beau Dure&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;a68692bd-ccd6-47ae-ba2f-a35ad11a1d97&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2025\/apr\/02\/usmnt-nations-league-unlikeable&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c399a8f08005e57694021&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c399a8f08005e57694021&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c399a8f08005e57694021#block-6a4c399a8f08005e57694021\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a0<time datetime=\"2026-07-06T23:34:47.000Z\" data-locale=\"en-gb\" title=\"Tuesday, 7 July 2026 at 00:34 British Summer Time\">00.34 BST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container ad-slot-desktop dcr-73ci1u\"\/>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container dcr-73ci1u\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c39178f082e0d28ed5d73\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\"\/>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>On a different note \u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Thad: <\/strong>\u201cAs a gringo living on Latin America for close to a decade, I feel compelled to note that a) the US would be the last of the host countries to get through and, b) the <em>best<\/em> case for Latin American countries is that the last two remaining play each other in the quarters. I basically don\u2019t cheer for the US these days, and will cheer for Colombia first (my adopted home) and any latino team after that, but it\u2019s a pretty grim showing out there for a region where futbal comes in just behind religion for most people.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>Yeah, after all the upsets, we\u2019re still looking at a very Euro quarterfinal bracket.<\/em><\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c39178f082e0d28ed5d73&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c39178f082e0d28ed5d73&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c39178f082e0d28ed5d73#block-6a4c39178f082e0d28ed5d73\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c33e18f08bbcbdee6dbfa\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\"\/>\n<h2 id=\"pregame-mail-i\" class=\"dcr-8418j6\">Pregame mail I<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>I\u2019m going to start with a good bit of perspective here, pointing out that the person at the center of this controversy didn\u2019t ask for this: <\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Justin Kavanagh: <\/strong>\u201cI\u2019ve cursed many an airline down the years for flights delayed, flights cancelled, luggage lost, luggage rifled through for cell phones or money \u2026 it\u2019s a long list. But imagine the airline ire of poor Balogun tonight. His mother wasn\u2019t allowed to fly to London 25 years ago and now the poor chap is suddenly the world\u2019s most unpopular footballer (for at least a night), with the unsought championing of Donald Trump to wear like an albatross around his neck. This despite the fact that he is also \u2014 quite suddenly \u2014 America\u2019s most famous birthright citizen. And all because of a flight missed decades ago, through absolutely no fault of his own. Some airline passengers, like some immigrants, have it tougher than others.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>Now \u2026 on to your rooting interests, and if you\u2019ve noted that you\u2019re from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/usfootballteam\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">USA<\/a>, I\u2019ve noted that. And yes, the sampling of email I\u2019ve received really is this one-sided. No one\u2019s happy here.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>DW: <\/strong>\u201cI\u2019m boycotting tonight\u2019s game; my own little protest, lol. I dearly hope <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/belgium\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Belgium<\/a> wins but I won\u2019t dignify the US by being a spectator to their shame.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Niall Mullen: <\/strong>\u201cWhen I was younger I feared that if America got its hands on football it would somehow ruin it. How wrong I was! I never knew the game needed to be broken up into quarters to facilitate the twin needs of hydration and end-stage capitalism. Amazing! Nor was I aware of the need to have almost endless TV cutaways to celebrities in their skyboxes, I mean wow! And most importantly I was blissfully ignorant of the need for political interference in the sporting element of the game to ensure that the host team is not inconvenienced by the so-called rules. God bless the US of A! Some might wish the USMNT all of the ill luck for their shameless collusion in the degradation of this tournament. Not me though! USA! USA! USA!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>In fairness, isn\u2019t part of the hydration\/end-stage capitalism on Fifa?<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Danny Whitehead <\/strong>(Idaho): \u201cThere\u2019s two things I\u2019d love to tonight, neither of which are likely: 1) the US chooses not to select Balogun for the team on principle; or if not, 2) Belgium stick four past them, with Rudi Garcia saying in the post match interview \u2018Try to overturn THAT, you Coke-swilling, Big Mac belching, tiny handed tyrant!\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>Hey, I\u2019m from Georgia. Half of my blood stream is Coca-Cola.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Matthew Leung: <\/strong>\u201cI actually like the US team, but Balogun-gate has done them absolutely no favours whatsoever and this will taint their campaign whether or not Balogun starts. Obviously I want to make clear that none of this is his fault at all and the players have had an honourable campaign on their own terms up until this point. They\u2019re just caught in the middle of all this furore, unfortunately. It\u2019s a shame, really, as technically I think they\u2019re a lot better than Belgium. And an extremely politically polarized US is crying out for something positive that can unite the whole nation. But sometimes there are victories, and then there are moral victories.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Mike Wilner <\/strong>(LA): \u201cIt was inevitable that Trump would get involved in the Cup at some point. He was too quiet for too long. But I really thought that he\u2019d either: (a) grandstand at the final (like at the Club World Cup) or at a USMNT achievement; or (b) get bitchy on social media at something like an African team progressing or a USMNT flameout. I didn\u2019t expect anything like this. Shaded in power abuse, but hinting at a legitimate correction of a bad ruling. Oooof.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Tim Light: <\/strong>\u201cRooting for US win and Pulisic red card.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>Root for chaos!<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Mary Waltz: <\/strong>\u201cThe Fox Sports coverage is pretending that the Trump intervention didn\u2019t happen. Zero mention of it. They are just doing the standard hype. I want the USMNT to win. The rest of the world football press is discussing FIFA &#8211; Trump corruption. Fox is just doing the \u2018look, squirrel over there\u2019 distraction routine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>I think you\u2019re not alone in wandering if you can learn Spanish in the next 45 minutes.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Maximilian Vanlancker <\/strong>(Belgian American rooting FOR Belgium Before, Rooting against USA now)<strong>:<\/strong> \u201cAs the football (soccer) fan in my social circle, nothing has been more aggravating than hearing from those who have watched maybe 5 games of soccer in their lives total about how the red card was totally unjustified because \u2018how else was he supposed to step down and besides it clearly wasn\u2019t intentional.\u2019 Then I must remind them that (maybe unlike other sports, really not sure) intent isn\u2019t the issue if the play is reckless. Over and over again. It\u2019s been annoying but whatever. Until FIFA in all their wisdom decided that the suspension is suspended, with no real decision on the justification or not of the red card. Now I actually care. I can only hope KDB in all his moodiness finds the spark to loathe the USA like they\u2019re Arsenal and deliver a full Strawberry Mode performance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>FWIW, I\u2019m a ref (considerably more than five games), and I disagree with the red card. In any case, KDB is not in the SXI.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Peter Goldstein: <\/strong>\u201cI was supporting the USMNT before most people even knew there was a USMNT. I was in the stands when they lost to Costa Rica and got eliminated from qualifying for Mexico 1986. But the Balogun thing is simple corruption, not even particularly interesting corruption. Rooting against the USA for the rest of the tournament.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Drew Ellis: <\/strong>\u201cI mean, whatever else Trump &amp; Infantino have done, they\u2019ve certainly created great theatre. What might have been an enjoyable if minor World Cup match now has more worldwide attention than any game so far. It\u2019s even encouraging me to buy one of the delightfully floral Belgium away shirts to wear around a very pro-Belgium Vancouver.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Kit Baker: <\/strong>\u201cI work in the arts, and the way the Kennedy Center has been defiled by similarly inappropriate (and just plain obscene) interference cut deep. Parallel and equally corrupt attempts to destroy the National Endowment for the Arts have been making my blood boil. Yesterday I would have watched and hoped that the US would win &#8211; which they appeared perfectly capable of doing without Balogun &#8211; but today I hope that Belgium play them out of the park, and then some.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Chris Connor: <\/strong>\u201cLook, if Messi didn\u2019t get a red card for his studs up challenge (FIFA of course would never red card Messi, bad for viewership and ticket sales) Balogun certainly didn\u2019t deserve one. However, they way in which it was overturned taints the whole mess. As one of the many Americans who despises Trump this whole thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Furthermore, if Trump had had his way re: birthright citizenship Balogun would playing for Nigeria. It\u2019s all terrible. FIFA needs a transparent (haha!) way of appealing bad refereeing decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>John Parry: <\/strong>\u201cThere\u2019s really no need to debate this. Trump has put open corruption front and centre in life in general. The fact that FIFA are hiding behind some ridiculous regulations actually makes it funny, on one level. The world will roll on. USA won\u2019t win the WC and will forever have an asterisk against the Belgium game.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Kevin Chauncey: <\/strong>\u201cIt\u2019s depressing stuff, really. I was going to go out to watch it, even if the support around my area isn\u2019t great. Now I\u2019m prepping to just watch it in. To be clear: it isn\u2019t the players\u2019 fault here, and I wouldn\u2019t have been mad but know it was too much to ask Poch to just sit Balogun in an overly noble statement of defiance. So now I get to support my team and be mad about it. And if that isn\u2019t a tale as old as time, I don\u2019t know what is. At least that lone part of football remains pure.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Vlado: <\/strong>\u201cI have to say I\u2019m definitely not thrilled by the fact Balogun can play tonight because I really don\u2019t like his goal celebration. LeBron and basketballs, what? Mixing two different sports is just somehow odd, at least to me. It\u2019s my inner Larry David (\u201cDo you respect the ball?) There, refreshingly non-political, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>I remember a youth international tournament, maybe U-20s, in which the USA beat a team they weren\u2019t expected to beat, and one of the players on the losing team taunted the USA by making a gesture as if he were shooting a basketball. Probably the wrong thing to do when you\u2019ve just lost to a bunch of supposed basketball players. <\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Farhan: <\/strong>\u201cMy guess is USA will edge this one after Belgium play an absolute stinker. It\u2019s not always that a striker with a cumulative 64 minutes of the club season comes good while playing for his country and the striker in question isn\u2019t a 21 year old he was in 2014.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>And I apparently brought back a bad memory \u2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Daniel Stauss: <\/strong>\u201cI was all set to write an unhinged screed about red cards and political machinations and yadda yadda yadda, and then you went and brought Wondo to the party. Good player, even if he was with San Jose, but wow, that whiff still stinks up the joint.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>I maintain it wasn\u2019t the easiest of shots.<\/em><\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c33e18f08bbcbdee6dbfa&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c33e18f08bbcbdee6dbfa&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c33e18f08bbcbdee6dbfa#block-6a4c33e18f08bbcbdee6dbfa\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container ad-slot-desktop dcr-73ci1u\"\/>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container dcr-73ci1u\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c32088f082e0d28ed5d50\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-u1xpqf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1dedliu\"><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-scesqk\">Jeff Rueter<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">No real surprises in the US lineup, identical to the side that beat Paraguay and Bosnia and Herzegovina. I suppose some would have preferred to see <strong>Folarin Balogun<\/strong> left on the bench to make a statement with an ounce of sportsmanship, but this is an elimination game. <\/p>\n<p>As for Belgium, <strong>Rudi Garcia<\/strong> has made a massive call by leaving <strong>Kevin De Bruyne<\/strong> and <strong>Jeremy Doku<\/strong> on the bench to begin this match. One imagines his rationale is that Belgium is at its best with both men on the field, and they may be needed to endure extra-time and a possible shootout. <\/p>\n<p>Then again, this US side has flown out of the gates throughout the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">World Cup<\/a>. If Belgium is unable to slow their roll and dig themselves into an insurmountable hole, Garcia\u2019s lineup will rightly be scrutinized.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c32088f082e0d28ed5d50&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c32088f082e0d28ed5d50&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c32088f082e0d28ed5d50#block-6a4c32088f082e0d28ed5d50\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a0<time datetime=\"2026-07-06T22:55:40.000Z\" data-locale=\"en-gb\" title=\"Monday, 6 July 2026 at 23:55 British Summer Time\">23.55 BST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c2f268f082e0d28ed5d3a\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1pxv6ha\">Lineups<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">No surprises for the USA. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/belgium\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Belgium<\/a> moves Kevin De Bruyne, among others, to the bench.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>USA: <\/strong>Freese; Ream, Richards, Freeman; A. Robinson, Dest; Adams, McKennie, Tillman; Pulisic, Balogun<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Belgium: <\/strong>Courtois; De Cuyper, Ngoy, Mechele, Castagne; Raskin, Onana; Trossard, Tielemans, Lukebakio; De Ketelaere<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Changes for Belgium from the 3-2 win over Senegal:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\n<li class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">At the back, Ngoy replaces Theate<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Elsewhere: Raskin, Onana and Lukebakio are in; De Bruyne, Theate, Raskin and Doku are out<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Cristian Roldan is unavailable due to injury.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c2f268f082e0d28ed5d3a&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c2f268f082e0d28ed5d3a&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c2f268f082e0d28ed5d3a#block-6a4c2f268f082e0d28ed5d3a\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c2d798f08005e57693fd9\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\"\/>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>More about Belgium<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Something the USA and Belgium have in common is that they participated in the very first <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">World Cup<\/a> in 1930. The first game in each country\u2019s World Cup history was 3-0 win to the USA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The Society for Soccer American History (disclaimer: of <em>course <\/em>I\u2019m a member \u2013 it\u2019s a great group) has posted a couple of videos about how Belgium made it to Uruguay while most European sides did not.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"d3442003-e08e-4f1a-bba9-ec842478bafd\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.VideoYoutubeBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\">\n<div data-component=\"youtube-embed\" class=\"dcr-ow2eqa\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/B2oAHoe2f4Q?wmode=opaque&amp;feature=oembed\" title=\"Belgium's 1930 World Cup journey to Montevideo with Stefan Van Loock, Part 1\" height=\"480\" width=\"854\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-174mzkf\"><span class=\"dcr-1hnminq\"><svg width=\"36\" height=\"23\" viewbox=\"0 0 36 23\"><path d=\"M3.2 0l-3.2 3.3v16.4l3.3 3.3h18.7v-23h-18.8m30.4 1l-8.6 8v5l8.6 8h2.4v-21h-2.4\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Interview on Belgium\u2019s 1930 World Cup trip.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c2d798f08005e57693fd9&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c2d798f08005e57693fd9&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c2d798f08005e57693fd9#block-6a4c2d798f08005e57693fd9\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container dcr-73ci1u\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c29b48f082e0d28ed5d1e\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1pxv6ha\">Preamble II: The controversy (and a mailbag note)<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The US team and this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">World Cup<\/a> as a whole have done a remarkable job winning over a skeptical country, if not a skeptical <em>world<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Fifteen months ago, some Guardian writer noted that the US men\u2019s team was underachieving <em>and <\/em>unlikeable. They weren\u2019t lovable, scrappy underdogs out to gain respect for their team on the world stage and gain respect for their sport in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/usfootballteam\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">USA<\/a>. They were aloof representatives of a country going through a politically fraught period.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"3d4fd01a-9385-41e0-9ee6-2a50d69fbb55\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:2,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;The US men\u2019s national team aren\u2019t just underachievers; they\u2019re unlikeable | Beau Dure&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;3d4fd01a-9385-41e0-9ee6-2a50d69fbb55&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2025\/apr\/02\/usmnt-nations-league-unlikeable&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Then the games started. Talk of visa woes gave way to feel-good stories of foreign visitors feeling welcome. (Iran\u2019s national team may beg to differ.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">And the USA looked \u2026 good? They demolished Paraguay, a feat that looks all the more impressive after the South American side knocked out Germany and took France to the wire. They were clinical against Australia. Sure, they lost to Turkey, but they played an entertaining game with the B-side, having already clinched the group.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The win over Bosnia and Herzegovina was a team-defining moment. The knock on this team had long been that they had the talent but not the grit \u2013 hence the tendency of losing to Panama. This game showed they had both.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">So bring on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/belgium\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Belgium<\/a>, right? Sure, they\u2019ll be missing Balogun, but it\u2019s probably a 50-50 shot at their first quarterfinal appearance in 24 years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Then \u2026<\/p>\n<figure id=\"57af8ad7-7f35-4628-8486-f9e33f15177d\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:8,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Trump confirms he asked Infantino for review of Folarin Balogun red card&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;57af8ad7-7f35-4628-8486-f9e33f15177d&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/06\/trump-fifa-balogun-red-card-review-intervention&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">So now, this team that had strived to overcome its image issues (a couple of recent documentary series helped as well) is inexorably tied to a president who is disliked by roughly three-fifths of the USA and quite a few people worldwide.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">And US fans can\u2019t really feel good about the way this happened. Sure, the red card was questionable \u2013 it\u2019s still being debated. It may depend on which you value more \u2013 the Laws of the Game or the laws of physics, which dictate that Balogun was stumbling and had to put his foot down somewhere, levitation having not yet been invented.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">My social media feeds are full of people who have gone from wholeheartedly supporting this team to \u2026 not exactly rooting <em>against <\/em>them but certainly feeling a bit more lukewarm about the whole thing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Which leads to an email request:<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">I expect I\u2019ll be flooded with email before and during the game. You can help me out by using specifics in your subject line.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Some examples:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\n<li class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cUnhappy but still supportive\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cRooting for Belgium now\u201d<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cThe red card was wrong in the first place and Brazil 1962 blah blah\u201d \u2013 OK, don\u2019t use that one.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">You get the idea.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Looking forward to hearing from everyone.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c29b48f082e0d28ed5d1e&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c29b48f082e0d28ed5d1e&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c29b48f082e0d28ed5d1e#block-6a4c29b48f082e0d28ed5d1e\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container ad-slot-desktop dcr-73ci1u\"\/>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container dcr-73ci1u\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c26688f082e0d28ed5d10\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<h2 class=\"dcr-1pxv6ha\">Preamble I: The game<\/h2>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In a more perfect world, we would be looking at a fascinating matchup between two teams that have been saddled with a \u201cGolden Generation\u201d tag.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Belgium\u2019s \u201cGolden Generation\u201d more or less lived up to expectations, reaching the 2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">World Cup<\/a> quarterfinals (defeating the USA in the Round of 16 \u2013 we\u2019ll get to that) and taking third place in 2018. The players \u2013 especially <strong>Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, Axel Witsel, Jan Vertonghen, Vincent Kompany<\/strong> and <strong>Eden Hazard<\/strong> &#8211; all had glittering club careers. Lukaku, De Bruyne, Witsel and Courtois are still in the squad.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The first inklings of \u201cGolden Generation\u201d in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/usfootballteam\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">USA<\/a> appeared when <strong>Christian Pulisic<\/strong>, already being hyped as a generational talent on par or better than <strong>Landon Donovan<\/strong> or <strong>Clint Dempsey<\/strong>, jumped into World Cup qualifying as a teenager. That team shockingly failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. But Pulisic is the only young player from that qualifying cycle who is on the US roster today. The only other player still around, oddly enough, had already passed 30 when qualifying ended \u2013 defender <strong>Tim Ream<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">More players soon emerged from Major League Soccer clubs\u2019 nascent youth programs, such as <strong>Weston McKennie<\/strong> and <strong>Chris Richards<\/strong> from FC Dallas, and <strong>Tyler Adams<\/strong> and <strong>Timothy Weah<\/strong> from the New York Red Bulls. (Later: <strong>Alex Freeman<\/strong> from Orlando City.) All of them followed Pulisic to Europe at a young age and have had moderately successful careers \u2013 not on the level of a De Bruyne or a Kompany but solid contributors on top European sides.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Others joined from the time-honored pipelines that have supplemented the US national team through the years &#8211; players born and developed in Europe but eligible for US citizenship. <strong>Sergi\u00f1o Dest<\/strong> from the Netherlands. <strong>Malik Tillman<\/strong> from Germany. A<strong>ntonee Robinson<\/strong> from England. And most recently, <strong>Folarin Balogun<\/strong> from England. (See Preamble II in a few minutes.)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Both teams got here with gutsy performances in the Round of 32. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/belgium\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Belgium<\/a> trailed Senegal 2-0 in the 85th minute. The USA dug deep to hang on to a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina despite a red card to Balogun. (We\u2019ll get to it!)<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">And yes, it\u2019s a rematch of the 2014 round of 16 game in which the USA took Belgium to extra time thanks to <strong>Tim Howard<\/strong>\u2019s instantly memed 16 saves. It would be a stretch to say the USA played well enough to merit a victory in that game, but they did have a chance late in regulation that would have netted them an improbable quarterfinal berth.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"782bf179-7390-4a11-ab35-d9c77fc8e5c7\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.VideoYoutubeBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\">\n<div data-component=\"youtube-embed\" class=\"dcr-ow2eqa\">\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/2nRWf4sZczU?wmode=opaque&amp;feature=oembed\" title=\"#ThingsTimHowardCouldSave - Top 10 Tim Howard Memes! | Belgium 2-1 United States 2014 World Cup\" height=\"480\" width=\"854\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-174mzkf\"><span class=\"dcr-1hnminq\"><svg width=\"36\" height=\"23\" viewbox=\"0 0 36 23\"><path d=\"M3.2 0l-3.2 3.3v16.4l3.3 3.3h18.7v-23h-18.8m30.4 1l-8.6 8v5l8.6 8h2.4v-21h-2.4\"\/><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Tim Howard saves the day. And many others.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">That chance wasn\u2019t a \u201csitter.\u201d Get off <strong>Chris Wondolowski<\/strong>\u2019s back. The guy had a great career.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">So it\u2019s the kind of matchup that makes the World Cup great. This game could end with Belgium claiming their third quarterfinal berth in four World Cups. Or it could be one of the biggest wins in US history.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Exciting, isn\u2019t it? Now &#8230; did something happen to upstage these compelling storylines?<\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c26688f082e0d28ed5d10&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c26688f082e0d28ed5d10&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c26688f082e0d28ed5d10#block-6a4c26688f082e0d28ed5d10\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container ad-slot-desktop dcr-73ci1u\"\/>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container dcr-73ci1u\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c26248f08005e57693fa9\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-u1xpqf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1dedliu\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/27\/Jeff_Rueter,_L.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=c2de07b50766ecdff4f878e1a68d2553\" alt=\"Jeff Rueter\" class=\"dcr-wso613\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-scesqk\">Jeff Rueter<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>The last time the United States played in Seattle was their 2-0 win over Australia to clinch Group D in just two games. The scenes afterwards quickly became the stuff of US Soccer legend, with tens of thousands sticking around to belt out <\/em>Take Me Home, Country Roads<em> by John Denver.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">John Denver was a fierce advocate for hunger relief, nature conservation, and global peace. For many, there\u2019s a sense of relief that the songs you know by heart were written by someone with such a worldview.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Utopian, yet quintessentially American. These concepts weren\u2019t always at odds. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">World Cup<\/a> has the rare power to get people of diverse backgrounds to unite \u2013 \u201cOf all the unimportant things, football is the most important\u201d as the expression goes. In the hours before the US kicked off their games against Paraguay and Australia, it wasn\u2019t hard to spot handshakes and toasts of ludicrously overpriced lager between opposing fans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Which is where the simplicity of Country Roads becomes quite clever, distilling that complex and cosmopolitan worldview to its briefest mission statement in unapologetic crescendo: Take me home to the place <em>I belong<\/em>. The same promise that pulled all of our immigrant ancestors stateside, that my colleagues from abroad are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jun\/20\/spaceship-stadiums-and-ronaldo-mania-guardian-writers-first-impressions-of-the-world-cup\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">relieved to still recognize<\/a> as they go about their coverage, soundtracked and sung at the height of the chorus.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"ad923725-7332-461a-b1c7-c9c393b88502\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:4,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Take me home: why Country Roads has struck a chord at the World Cup&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;ad923725-7332-461a-b1c7-c9c393b88502&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jun\/20\/take-me-home-country-roads-world-cup-usmnt&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c26248f08005e57693fa9&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c26248f08005e57693fa9&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c26248f08005e57693fa9#block-6a4c26248f08005e57693fa9\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a0<time datetime=\"2026-07-06T22:10:21.000Z\" data-locale=\"en-gb\" title=\"Monday, 6 July 2026 at 23:10 British Summer Time\">23.10 BST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c25ca8f08bbcbdee6dbb9\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-u1xpqf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1dedliu\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/27\/Jeff_Rueter,_L.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=c2de07b50766ecdff4f878e1a68d2553\" alt=\"Jeff Rueter\" class=\"dcr-wso613\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-scesqk\">Jeff Rueter<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>Maybe US Soccer put Folarin Balogun up to speak too soon, fielding questions in the wake of his send-off and before his reinstatement. Nonetheless, it\u2019s worth revisiting his initial thoughts on what he called a \u201csurreal\u201d couple of days after the last-32 win\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Folarin Balogun fielded questions on the morning of his 25th birthday, though the cards being discussed weren\u2019t filled with kind notes and two-dollar bills.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cI\u2019ve been upset. I\u2019ve been happy,\u201d Balogun said of his past 36 hours. \u201cIt\u2019s been surreal, to be honest. But for me, I think it was just important to stay calm. I never want to react out of anger and out of emotion. There\u2019s still lots of people we\u2019re inspiring, little kids, boys and girls who are watching, and we have to show them the correct way to handle things, even when you think it\u2019s unjust.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Balogun said he still made a point of shaking referee Raphael Claus\u2019s hand after the match despite believing the decision was wrong, saying it was important to set the right example for supporters watching the tournament, many of whom may be experiencing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">World Cup<\/a> for the first time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cEven though you can feel like something unjust has happened to you, it\u2019s not an excuse to be disrespectful,\u201d Balogun said. \u201cAfter every game, I try to shake the referee\u2019s hand, and this game was no different.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"928c5ac2-83ba-45ef-93dc-12161570f696\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:5,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;\u2018It\u2019s been surreal\u2019: USMNT\u2019s Folarin Balogun moves on from controversial red card&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;928c5ac2-83ba-45ef-93dc-12161570f696&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/03\/folarin-balogun-red-card-suspension-belgium-world-cup&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c25ca8f08bbcbdee6dbb9&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c25ca8f08bbcbdee6dbb9&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c25ca8f08bbcbdee6dbb9#block-6a4c25ca8f08bbcbdee6dbb9\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a0<time datetime=\"2026-07-06T22:10:06.000Z\" data-locale=\"en-gb\" title=\"Monday, 6 July 2026 at 23:10 British Summer Time\">23.10 BST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container dcr-73ci1u\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c259b8f08bbcbdee6dbb6\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-u1xpqf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1dedliu\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/03\/18\/Matt_Hughes.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=65ec70fc62f9c7b30000cbb453a3ed37\" alt=\"Matt Hughes\" class=\"dcr-wso613\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-scesqk\">Matt Hughes<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Perhaps the only globally renowned figure who has been more conspicuous by his absence at this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">World Cup<\/a> tournament than Donald Trump is the Uefa president, Aleksander Ceferin, although both men have more than made up for their silence over the past 24 hours.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">By endorsing a statement in which Uefa accused Fifa of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/06\/belgium-appeal-fifa-lifting-folarin-balogun-red-card-ban-last-16-us-world-cup\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">crossing \u201ca red line\u201d<\/a> in making the \u201cincomprehensible and unjustifiable\u201d decision to lift the USA striker Folarin Balogun\u2019s suspension for the last-16 tie with Belgium on Monday, Ceferin has effectively put European football on a war footing with the world governing body, a dramatic move that could have major implications for the future of the sport.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"b5886091-f08a-43aa-97b9-296555f37774\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:2,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Uefa has put European football on war footing with Fifa over Balogun decision | Matt Hughes&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;b5886091-f08a-43aa-97b9-296555f37774&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/06\/uefa-fifa-folarin-balogun-controversy-decision-usa-belgium-gianni-infantino-aleksander-ceferin&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c259b8f08bbcbdee6dbb6&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c259b8f08bbcbdee6dbb6&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c259b8f08bbcbdee6dbb6#block-6a4c259b8f08bbcbdee6dbb6\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container ad-slot-desktop dcr-73ci1u\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c255c8f08bbcbdee6dbb2\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-u1xpqf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1dedliu\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2018\/04\/24\/Jonathan_Wilson,_L.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=e679d7105c4baf7633c90e23de356f3d\" alt=\"Jonathan Wilson\" class=\"dcr-wso613\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-scesqk\">Jonathan Wilson<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The whiff of unfulfilment lingers around <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/belgium\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Belgium<\/a>. The Golden Generation \u2013 and the fact it never quite achieved what it might have done \u2013 has dominated coverage of their last three tournaments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">This squad seems cursed to be judged against the standards of two World Cups ago, somehow blamed for not being as good as their predecessors and at the same time damned for those predecessors\u2019 failure to convert talent into silverware.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"0636abb6-df7e-455b-80ce-99d5b11a06f6\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:2,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Belgium are looking for a new beginning at the World Cup against USA | Jonathan Wilson&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;0636abb6-df7e-455b-80ce-99d5b11a06f6&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/06\/belgium-look-for-a-new-beginning-against-usa&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c255c8f08bbcbdee6dbb2&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c255c8f08bbcbdee6dbb2&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c255c8f08bbcbdee6dbb2#block-6a4c255c8f08bbcbdee6dbb2\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c252a8f08005e57693fa0\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-u1xpqf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1dedliu\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28\/Pablo_Mauerer.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=9602b4288cb36550ef727fd40528bae4\" alt=\"Pablo Iglesias Maurer\" class=\"dcr-wso613\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-scesqk\">Pablo Iglesias Maurer<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Asking any of us to believe that Fifa is not influenced by Donald Trump<strong> <\/strong>is an absurdity. It is tantamount to asking us to believe he was awarded its \u201cpeace prize\u201d on merit alone. Infantino\u2019s relationship with Trump has long been a cozy one, a mutually beneficial symbiosis where Trump gets the type of sycophantic praise and attention he thrives on and Infantino gets the keys to the biggest commercial market in the world for Fifa\u2019s cash cow.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">What Trump does not realize \u2013 or perhaps he simply doesn\u2019t care \u2013 is that he has done the whole of American soccer no favors by putting his thumb on the scales.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The USMNT have reached their current station in the tournament on their own merits, riding three exceptional performances and one bang average one to the last 16. Balogun has been arguably the their best player throughout that run.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Yet even without the Monaco striker, there was no shortage of pundits and oddsmakers pegging the US as likely to win against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/belgium\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Belgium<\/a>. The perception the US have been handed an unfair advantage here \u2013 they have, to be clear \u2013 taints their potential advancement. This is true in the States, but much more so globally where Trump has become the latest in a long line of ugly Americans who are perceived, fairly or unfairly, to have expected preferential treatment.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"4f99fd41-5095-4067-aed4-7712c18f4c41\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:4,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Unwelcome and undue: Trump\u2019s red-card intervention hurts the US\u2019s World Cup more than it helps | Pablo Iglesias Maurer&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;4f99fd41-5095-4067-aed4-7712c18f4c41&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/06\/donald-trump-folarin-balogun-world-cup-usmnt-intervention&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c252a8f08005e57693fa0&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c252a8f08005e57693fa0&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c252a8f08005e57693fa0#block-6a4c252a8f08005e57693fa0\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c24f68f082e0d28ed5d09\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-u1xpqf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1dedliu\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28\/Alexander_Abnos.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=7aec2a064216b020c1bddbf73f1e6e20\" alt=\"Alexander Abnos\" class=\"dcr-wso613\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-scesqk\">Alexander Abnos<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Mauricio Pochettino hailed Fifa\u2019s shock decision to suspend Folarin Balogun\u2019s one-game ban on Sunday, reiterating his claim that the call to issue the US striker a red card was harsh.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cEveryone that really loves the sport and trusts ethics and integrity, I think we celebrate all that decision,\u201d Pochettino said. \u201cWe were punished enough against Bosnia Herzegovina to play with 10 men for 30 minutes [because of] a decision that was completely unfair. \u2026 99.9% of people agree there was an unfair red card.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"b002ee54-2729-4342-9ed3-4289d5e0d914\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:2,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Mauricio Pochettino praises Fifa for Balogun U-turn: \u2018We celebrate the decision\u2019&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;b002ee54-2729-4342-9ed3-4289d5e0d914&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/05\/mauricio-pochettino-usmnt-belgium-balogun-red-card-fifa-reversal&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c24f68f082e0d28ed5d09&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c24f68f082e0d28ed5d09&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c24f68f082e0d28ed5d09#block-6a4c24f68f082e0d28ed5d09\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container ad-slot-desktop dcr-73ci1u\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c24bc8f08bbcbdee6dbb0\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-u1xpqf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1dedliu\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/27\/Jeff_Rueter,_L.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=c2de07b50766ecdff4f878e1a68d2553\" alt=\"Jeff Rueter\" class=\"dcr-wso613\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-scesqk\">Jeff Rueter<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">As a Fifa media officer read aloud the statement confirming <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/05\/folarin-balogun-red-card-suspension-lifted-usmnt-belgium-world-cup\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">the governing body\u2019s shock reversal<\/a> of US striker Folarin Balogun\u2019s suspension on Sunday, Belgium coach Rudi Garcia and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois put their poker faces to work. Garcia stared straight down the aisle of the press conference room at Seattle Stadium. Courtois\u2019s eyes fluttered about, perhaps masking some rolls as he faced a press pack eager to make sense of an unexpected World Cup twist.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Balogun\u2019s reinstatement came across as a joke to the Belgian boss, though he hardly seemed ready for a laugh.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cI didn\u2019t know that 5 July was equal to 1 April [April Fools\u2019 Day] at Fifa,\u201d Garcia said in his native French. \u201cI think we should refer to the [statement] of my federation, the Belgian federation. I think a lot of things are in it. The federation does not defend itself, it does not defend the national team \u2013 it defends football in general. It defends its integrity. It defends its ethics.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"eb1084a8-d552-4a43-98c9-509b9b8afa71\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:3,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Astonished Belgium vow to \u2018defend football\u2019 after Fifa\u2019s shock Balogun reversal&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;eb1084a8-d552-4a43-98c9-509b9b8afa71&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/05\/belgium-rudi-garcia-world-cup-usmnt-folarin-balogun&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c24bc8f08bbcbdee6dbb0&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c24bc8f08bbcbdee6dbb0&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c24bc8f08bbcbdee6dbb0#block-6a4c24bc8f08bbcbdee6dbb0\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a0<time datetime=\"2026-07-06T22:09:45.000Z\" data-locale=\"en-gb\" title=\"Monday, 6 July 2026 at 23:09 British Summer Time\">23.09 BST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c24798f08bbcbdee6dbae\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-u1xpqf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1dedliu\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/27\/Jeff_Rueter,_L.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=c2de07b50766ecdff4f878e1a68d2553\" alt=\"Jeff Rueter\" class=\"dcr-wso613\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-scesqk\">Jeff Rueter<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Through four games, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/belgium\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Belgium<\/a> have retained 57% of possession with a 65% field tilt \u2013 a possession metric weighing only final-third touches \u2013 but haven\u2019t found a way to maximize that advantage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">While possession can be a noisy statistic, viewing it in stylistic terms can be informative. So far at this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">World Cup<\/a>, Belgium have won the possession battle in all four of their games, with Senegal playing them closest in a 52-48 split. The United States have maintained a 58% share of the ball in their four games, neck-and-neck with Garcia\u2019s Belgium. If Mauricio Pochettino\u2019s side can keep the ball off Belgian feet more often than not, it could unsettle the Red Devils.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Senegal nearly beat <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/belgium\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Belgium<\/a> by using width, quickly getting the ball to their wingers and creating overloads by having full-backs join the attack.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"ed7fd135-59ed-47ad-9377-d10ffedc579e\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:3,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium tactical analysis: what\u2019s Pochettino\u2019s plan with Balogun available?&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;ed7fd135-59ed-47ad-9377-d10ffedc579e&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/05\/usa-belgium-world-cup-folarin-balogun-replacement&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c24798f08bbcbdee6dbae&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c24798f08bbcbdee6dbae&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c24798f08bbcbdee6dbae#block-6a4c24798f08bbcbdee6dbae\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a0<time datetime=\"2026-07-06T22:09:35.000Z\" data-locale=\"en-gb\" title=\"Monday, 6 July 2026 at 23:09 British Summer Time\">23.09 BST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c24428f08bbcbdee6dbaa\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-u1xpqf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1dedliu\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28\/Alexander_Abnos.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=7aec2a064216b020c1bddbf73f1e6e20\" alt=\"Alexander Abnos\" class=\"dcr-wso613\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-scesqk\">Alexander Abnos<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">A raucous, pro-US crowd is expected in Seattle for the Americans\u2019 last-16 match against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/belgium\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Belgium<\/a> on Monday, but the Red Devils say that they don\u2019t fear the atmosphere that will await them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cI think we just have to \u2026 show balls on the pitch,\u201d left-back Maxim De Cuyper said on Friday. \u201cTry to play your own game. If you play against 80,000 supporters or with 80,000, you have to try to do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"22478075-1684-4531-9778-532b93fbe9d3\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:2,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Belgium players say they will need \u2018balls\u2019 to nullify home crowd against US&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;22478075-1684-4531-9778-532b93fbe9d3&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/04\/belgium-united-states-world-cup-environment&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c24428f08bbcbdee6dbaa&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c24428f08bbcbdee6dbaa&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c24428f08bbcbdee6dbaa#block-6a4c24428f08bbcbdee6dbaa\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c23fc8f082e0d28ed5d06\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-u1xpqf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1dedliu\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28\/Alexander_Abnos.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=7aec2a064216b020c1bddbf73f1e6e20\" alt=\"Alexander Abnos\" class=\"dcr-wso613\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-scesqk\">Alexander Abnos<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">To longtime US soccer fans, the question of whether to support this particular team at this particular time is barely a question. Or if it is one, it\u2019s vaguely along the lines of \u201cshould I breathe?\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">But there are plenty of newcomers along for the ride now, who may only watch the team at a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">World Cup<\/a>, if ever. Within this group, it stands to reason that plenty will be uncomfortable with the idea of supporting a US national sports team at all. I can hardly blame them.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">If you\u2019re looking for a reason to support the US men\u2019s national team, I beg of you, look out your window. If there is a moment of triumph to be had when the team play <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/belgium\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Belgium<\/a>, there will probably be thousands upon thousands of people in your immediate vicinity experiencing the purest joy that one can feel; the kind only sports can deliver with regularity. They will be your neighbors and friends, your co-workers, the clerk at the grocery store, the kitchen staff at your favorite restaurant. They have been in your life before this US run. And they will be there after.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"5159e33c-9134-4ed2-ad71-56e4acc20bf8\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:3,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Some Americans are reluctant to cheer for the US at the World Cup. They shouldn\u2019t be | Alexander Abnos&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;5159e33c-9134-4ed2-ad71-56e4acc20bf8&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/04\/some-americans-are-reluctant-to-cheer-for-the-us-at-the-world-cup-they-shouldnt-be&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c23fc8f082e0d28ed5d06&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c23fc8f082e0d28ed5d06&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c23fc8f082e0d28ed5d06#block-6a4c23fc8f082e0d28ed5d06\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<aside data-ad-slot=\"true\" class=\"ad-slot-container ad-slot-desktop dcr-73ci1u\"\/>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c23448f082e0d28ed5cfd\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-u1xpqf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1dedliu\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/27\/Jeff_Rueter,_L.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=c2de07b50766ecdff4f878e1a68d2553\" alt=\"Jeff Rueter\" class=\"dcr-wso613\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-scesqk\">Jeff Rueter<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">While Malik Tillman was unsure what to expect from the United States\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/01\/usa-bosnia-and-herzegovina-game-report-world-cup\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">last-32 clash<\/a> with Bosnia and Herzegovina, he certainly must have assumed he would finish the game with his boots intact.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Fifteen minutes after swapping his ripped right boot, his new shoe made its mark. Playing down a man after Balogun\u2019s red card, the US won a free-kick just beyond the edge of the box. After consulting with Antonee Robinson, Tillman hit a pearl of a free-kick over the Bosnia and Herzegovina wall and into the net.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Tillman\u2019s technique on his free-kick goal against Bosnia was sublime. Tillman became just the second player in USMNT history to score from a direct free-kick at a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">World Cup<\/a>, joining Eric Wynalda\u2019s loop in 1994.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"7d92beaa-a626-4368-a706-b6063cdab086\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:3,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Malik Tillman\u2019s bloody sock game rockets into US World Cup history&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;7d92beaa-a626-4368-a706-b6063cdab086&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/02\/malik-tillman-free-kick-bloody-sock-broken-boot-usmnt-world-cup&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c23448f082e0d28ed5cfd&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c23448f082e0d28ed5cfd&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c23448f082e0d28ed5cfd#block-6a4c23448f082e0d28ed5cfd\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a0<time datetime=\"2026-07-06T22:09:19.000Z\" data-locale=\"en-gb\" title=\"Monday, 6 July 2026 at 23:09 British Summer Time\">23.09 BST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c223f8f08bbcbdee6db9d\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-u1xpqf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1dedliu\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/27\/Jeff_Rueter,_L.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=c2de07b50766ecdff4f878e1a68d2553\" alt=\"Jeff Rueter\" class=\"dcr-wso613\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-scesqk\">Jeff Rueter<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Fifa has released a pair of statements in the wake of its change in handling Folarin Balogun\u2019s red-card punishment. The latest is <a href=\"https:\/\/media.fifa.com\/en\/tournaments\/mens\/fwc2026\/news\/statement-from-the-chairperson-of-the-fifa-disciplinary-committee-6-july-2026\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">a 13-point defense<\/a> of its operation, distancing itself from the influence of Donald Trump and adding a $40,000 fine to Balogun\u2019s bill. Capology estimates that Balogun earns $70,856 (\u20ac61,923) per week with AS Monaco.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cUnder Article 27 of the [Fifa Disciplinary Code], the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has the discretion to suspend the implementation of any disciplinary measures so long as they do not relate to match manipulation\u2014which, of course, did not occur here. \u2026 Said suspension of the implementation was decided considering all of the specific circumstances surrounding the incident and evidence available.\u201d<\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c223f8f08bbcbdee6db9d&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c223f8f08bbcbdee6db9d&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c223f8f08bbcbdee6db9d#block-6a4c223f8f08bbcbdee6db9d\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/p>\n<p>Updated at\u00a0<time datetime=\"2026-07-06T22:09:06.000Z\" data-locale=\"en-gb\" title=\"Monday, 6 July 2026 at 23:09 British Summer Time\">23.09 BST<\/time><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c21dd8f08bbcbdee6db9a\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<p><span class=\"dcr-kgavxw\">Ella Brockway<\/span><\/p>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>We could see another record viewership for this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">World Cup<\/a> version of Monday night football\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The United States\u2019 last-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina had an average of 24.429 million viewers on Fox, making it the most-watched English-language soccer broadcast in US history. The Fox telecast peaked at 31.883 million. Telemundo, which holds the Spanish language rights to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">World Cup<\/a> broadcasts in the US, reported 9.1 million viewers over the total game window.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">This year\u2019s NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs \u2013 which had their highest audience in nearly three decades \u2013 averaged an audience of 20.5 million, with Game 5 averaging 24.5 million and peaking at 33 million. The final game of last year\u2019s World Series averaged 27.3 million viewers in the US.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"b68addd7-7cd1-45db-b7fc-890fdc4ade9d\" data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\"><gu-island name=\"RichLinkComponent\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;richLinkIndex&quot;:3,&quot;element&quot;:{&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement&quot;,&quot;prefix&quot;:&quot;Related: &quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;USMNT win smashes American record for most-watched soccer broadcast with 33.5 million viewers&quot;,&quot;elementId&quot;:&quot;b68addd7-7cd1-45db-b7fc-890fdc4ade9d&quot;,&quot;role&quot;:&quot;inline&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jul\/02\/usmnt-world-cup-most-watched-viewership-record&quot;},&quot;ajaxUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/api.nextgen.guardianapps.co.uk&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2}}\"\/><\/figure>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c21dd8f08bbcbdee6db9a&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c21dd8f08bbcbdee6db9a&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c21dd8f08bbcbdee6db9a#block-6a4c21dd8f08bbcbdee6db9a\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c21858f08005e57693f82\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-u1xpqf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1dedliu\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28\/Pablo_Mauerer.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=9602b4288cb36550ef727fd40528bae4\" alt=\"Pablo Iglesias Maurer\" class=\"dcr-wso613\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-scesqk\">Pablo Iglesias Maurer<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">As we prepare for our fifth US match, it has to be stressed: the red-and-white, \u201cwavy flag\u201d themed kits the USMNT have sported this summer are quite possibly the most popular shirts the US has ever worn. They are absolutely, positively everywhere, seen in far greater numbers than the other fan favorites of the past \u2014 the \u201cWaldos,\u201d the \u201cBomb Pops,\u201d etc &#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Ironically, the second-most frequently spotted kits this summer are easily Adidas\u2019 old \u201cDenim Kits\u201d from 1994, which were always a curiosity to see in years past. Adidas re-released them ahead of this summer\u2019s tournament, and they\u2019ve sold thousands upon thousands of them. You love to see it.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c21858f08005e57693f82&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c21858f08005e57693f82&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c21858f08005e57693f82#block-6a4c21858f08005e57693f82\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c216b8f08005e57693f7e\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-u1xpqf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1dedliu\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28\/Alexander_Abnos.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=7aec2a064216b020c1bddbf73f1e6e20\" alt=\"Alexander Abnos\" class=\"dcr-wso613\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-scesqk\">Alexander Abnos<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">It must be said: it\u2019s an absolutely gorgeous day here in the Pacific Northwest. It\u2019s warm \u2013 but not too warm \u2013 and bright \u2013 but not too bright. There\u2019s a pleasant breeze coming in off the Puget Sound. The pre-match gatherings outside are lively and the concourses are already teeming with people hours before kickoff.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">A perfect day for a game.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c216b8f08005e57693f7e&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c216b8f08005e57693f7e&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c216b8f08005e57693f7e#block-6a4c216b8f08005e57693f7e\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-6a4c1fce8f08bbcbdee6db8a\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\">\n<div class=\"dcr-u1xpqf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1dedliu\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/27\/Jeff_Rueter,_L.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=c2de07b50766ecdff4f878e1a68d2553\" alt=\"Jeff Rueter\" class=\"dcr-wso613\"\/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-scesqk\">Jeff Rueter<\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<h2 id=\"prelude\" class=\"dcr-8418j6\">Prelude<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">From the moment the United States secured a place in the last-16, the prevailing narrative seemed to focus on a chance for redemption. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/belgium\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Belgium<\/a> prevailed when these teams met at an identical stage of 2014, with Romelu Lukaku running rampant through J\u00fcrgen Klinsmann\u2019s team as Tim Howard put in a performance for the ages to try keeping his team in the match.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Sunday threw everyone a shock as reports emerged that Fifa had elected to suspend Folarin Balogun\u2019s one-match ban that customarily accompanies a red-card ejection. As the day progressed, the tone of the discourse shifted from one of justice being served \u2013 it really was more of a yellow-card offense, most admitted from the moment of contact \u2013 to growing unease about the manner of the about-face. Not only was this a break from generations-long custom, but it was done in a way that reeked of entitlement. No matter how strongly Donald Trump was able to twist Gianni Infantino\u2019s arm, the crack team of lawyers assembled by US Soccer took an unprecedented step to pore through Fifa\u2019s rulebook for loopholes. Not very sporting, is it.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In truth, Mauricio Pochettino \u2013 who stressed he had no knowledge of US Soccer\u2019s machinations in his Sunday press availability \u2013 could have gotten his team up for a result against this Belgium side without the legal defense. The United States have been one of the most in-form sides at this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">World Cup<\/a>, enthralling in attack and unexpectedly sound with their defensive structure. Belgium arrives in a weakened state than it was in 2014, lacking a clear attacking focal point and failing to turn considerable possession into dangerous chances.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Whether Balogun starts or not will undoubtedly be the main narrative once the lineups drop in an hour or so. Until then, let\u2019s catch up on all of our coverage from the last few days \u2013 both about the relitigated red card and on-field matters.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4c1fce8f08bbcbdee6db8a&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4c1fce8f08bbcbdee6db8a&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4c1fce8f08bbcbdee6db8a#block-6a4c1fce8f08bbcbdee6db8a\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"block-6a4b2aae8f08b96be104710f\" class=\"block dcr-wo4zmo\">\n<header class=\"dcr-dm96fu\"\/>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>Beau will be here shortly. In the meantime, here\u2019s a look at this matchup from Graham Ruthven\u2019s daily guide:<\/em><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-to-watch-for\" class=\"dcr-8418j6\">What to watch for<\/h2>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The USA are playing like a Pochettino team. Their attacking verve and energy have made the co-hosts one of the most exciting sides to watch at this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/world-cup-football\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">World Cup<\/a>, although defeat to Belgium would prompt a sense of deja vu after last-16 exits in 2010, 2014 and 2022.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Belgium got the better of the USA at the same stage of the 2014 World Cup, but the country\u2019s so-called golden generation has faded (or altogether disappeared) since then. Rudi Garcia\u2019s side have toiled throughout this summer\u2019s tournament and can\u2019t be relied upon to create goalscoring opportunities. This is a big chance for the USA.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><strong>Player to watch: <\/strong>Folarin Balogun, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/usfootballteam\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">USA<\/a> \u2013 After his one-game red-card ban was suspended by Fifa, Balogun will once again be the USA\u2019s biggest threat in the attacking third. The Monaco striker is enjoying a breakout tournament.<\/p>\n<footer class=\"dcr-i9zbi8\"><gu-island name=\"ShareButton\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"visible\" props=\"{&quot;size&quot;:&quot;xsmall&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;hash&quot;:&quot;block-6a4b2aae8f08b96be104710f&quot;,&quot;queryParams&quot;:{&quot;page&quot;:&quot;with:block-6a4b2aae8f08b96be104710f&quot;},&quot;webTitle&quot;:&quot;USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&quot;,&quot;format&quot;:{&quot;design&quot;:11,&quot;display&quot;:0,&quot;theme&quot;:2},&quot;context&quot;:&quot;LiveBlock&quot;}\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live?CMP=share_btn_url&amp;page=with%3Ablock-6a4b2aae8f08b96be104710f#block-6a4b2aae8f08b96be104710f\" type=\"button\" class=\"dcr-10ju04u\">Share<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"-3 -3 30 30\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M19 16c1.675 0 3 1.35 3 3 0 1.675-1.325 3-3 3a2.97 2.97 0 0 1-2.975-3c0-.125 0-.275.025-.375L7.1 14.15a2.9 2.9 0 0 1-2.075.825C3.325 14.975 2 13.65 2 12a3.004 3.004 0 0 1 3.025-3.025c.775 0 1.5.35 2.075.875l8.95-4.475c-.025-.1-.025-.225-.025-.4A2.966 2.966 0 0 1 19 2c1.675 0 3 1.325 3 2.975C22 6.65 20.675 8 19 8c-.8 0-1.475-.325-2.05-.825l-8.975 4.45C8 11.7 8 11.825 8 12s0 .3-.025.375l8.975 4.45c.575-.5 1.25-.825 2.05-.825m0-12.8c-.975 0-1.8.775-1.8 1.775S18.025 6.8 19 6.8c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.825S20 3.2 19 3.2m0 17.6c1 0 1.825-.825 1.825-1.8 0-1-.825-1.8-1.825-1.8-.975 0-1.8.8-1.8 1.8 0 .975.825 1.8 1.8 1.8\"\/><\/svg><\/a><\/gu-island><\/footer>\n<\/article>\n<p><gu-island name=\"LiveBlogEpic\" priority=\"feature\" deferuntil=\"idle\" props=\"{&quot;sectionId&quot;:&quot;football&quot;,&quot;shouldHideReaderRevenue&quot;:false,&quot;tags&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;football\/world-cup-2026&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Keyword&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;World Cup 2026&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;football\/usfootballteam&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Keyword&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;USA&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;football\/belgium&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Keyword&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Belgium&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;sport\/us-sport&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Keyword&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;US sports&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;football\/football&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Keyword&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Football&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;sport\/sport&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Keyword&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Sport&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;football\/world-cup-football&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Keyword&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;World Cup&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;type\/article&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Type&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Article&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;tone\/minutebyminute&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Tone&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Minute by minute&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;tone\/news&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Tone&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;News&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;profile\/beau-dure&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Contributor&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Beau Dure&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;profile\/jeff-rueter&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Contributor&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Jeff Rueter&quot;,&quot;twitterHandle&quot;:&quot;jeffrueter&quot;,&quot;bylineImageUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/27\/Jeff_Rueter.jpg?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=78a3c7bf8d8b5f11cca41f4fd9416c4e&quot;,&quot;bylineLargeImageUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/27\/Jeff_Rueter,_L.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=c2de07b50766ecdff4f878e1a68d2553&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;profile\/matthughes&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Contributor&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Matt 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Wilson&quot;,&quot;twitterHandle&quot;:&quot;jonawils&quot;,&quot;bylineImageUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2018\/04\/24\/Jonathan-Wilson.jpg?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=94216923f8860fddc289e01ee180b6cc&quot;,&quot;bylineLargeImageUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2018\/04\/24\/Jonathan_Wilson,_L.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=e679d7105c4baf7633c90e23de356f3d&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;profile\/pablo-iglesias-maurer&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Contributor&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Pablo Iglesias Maurer&quot;,&quot;bylineImageUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28\/Pablo_Mauerer.jpg?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=610ec2bfd95dc834bfd4085fa5ea8ad5&quot;,&quot;bylineLargeImageUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28\/Pablo_Mauerer.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=9602b4288cb36550ef727fd40528bae4&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;profile\/alexander-abnos&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Contributor&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Alexander Abnos&quot;,&quot;bylineImageUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28\/Alexander_Abnos.jpg?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=b31956456f653f0f6ec155eb4a1c7a84&quot;,&quot;bylineLargeImageUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/uploads\/2026\/05\/28\/Alexander_Abnos.png?width=300&amp;quality=85&amp;auto=format&amp;fit=max&amp;s=7aec2a064216b020c1bddbf73f1e6e20&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;profile\/ella-brockway&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Contributor&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Ella Brockway&quot;},{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;tracking\/commissioningdesk\/us-sport&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;Tracking&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;US Sport&quot;}],&quot;isPaidContent&quot;:false,&quot;contributionsServiceUrl&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/contributions.guardianapis.com&quot;,&quot;pageId&quot;:&quot;football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live&quot;,&quot;keywordIds&quot;:&quot;football\/world-cup-2026,football\/usfootballteam,football\/belgium,sport\/us-sport,football\/football,sport\/sport,football\/world-cup-football&quot;,&quot;renderingTarget&quot;:&quot;Web&quot;,&quot;isSensitive&quot;:false}\"\/><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/noticias\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mais Not\u00edcias<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Home Page &#8211; In\u00edcio<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/live\/2026\/jul\/06\/usa-v-belgium-world-cup-2026-last-16-live\">Fonte do Artigo <\/a><br \/>\nSee more: <a href=\"https:\/\/theglobaltrack.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Global Track<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/corinthiames.com.br\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Corinthia Mes<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Key events Timely from Peter Rehwaldt: \u201cAs a pastor, I have to say \u2018God help the referee for USA v Belgium.\u2019 It\u2019s not as if referees don\u2019t get a lot of scrutiny in ordinary matches. It\u2019s not as if referees don\u2019t get more scrutiny in World Cup matches. But this is the Geopolitical World Cup [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":151304,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"googlesitekit_rrm_CAow2JLhCw:productID":"","_gspb_post_css":"","maa_idioma":"","maa_pais":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[13005,3468,2893,5620,4633],"class_list":["post-151303","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brasil","tag-belgium","tag-cup","tag-live","tag-usa","tag-world"],"blocksy_meta":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>USA v Belgium: World Cup 2026 last 16 \u2013 live | World Cup 2026 - Ubirat\u00e3 Online Not\u00edcias - A realidade ao seu alcance!<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"&#x3C;strong&#x3E;Minute-by-minute report: &#x3C;\/strong&#x3E;Can the Americans reach their first quarter-final since 2002 or will Belgium stand in their way? 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