USA 1- 4 Belgium - 2026 World Cup Match Report and Player Ratings

Third and final host nation eliminated as USA fall timidly to comfortable Belgium

We all wondered what would happen when the Amercians came up against one of the more established footballing nations at this World Cup. It's safe to say we found out pretty quickly with this round of 16 game.

The events surrounding the game clearly gave the Belgians the bit between their teeth as they served out what can reliably be described as a healthy bit of karma for the host nation.

An excellent display for Charles de Ketelaere saw him score two and get an assist on the night, with USA ultimately unable to muster any sort of challenge to Belgium's superiority in a 1-3 defeat.

USA vs Belgium as it happened

It took just eight minutes of attacking football for the Belgians to find the opener.

On the front foot from the off, the Europeans actually should have scored earlier through Tielemans who mistimed his swipe at the ball. But that didn't matter as, just a minute later Nicolas Raskin pounced on a poor headed clearance by Chris Richards and drove toward the byline.

The Fulham man pulled a lovely ball across the face of goal to the waiting de Ketelaere, who was left with way too much space as he finished simply to dampen the host atmosphere in Seattle.

The US got a slight foothold in the game from there, in terms of reducing the threat of Belgium and retaining the ball anyway, but still appeared very much second best as the hydration break came and went.

As we know in football, literally anything can happen and the game can change on a sixpence. That is exactly what happened in the 31st minute.

Mechele gave away a free kick on the edge of the box for being over physical with Balogun. Malik Tillman was the man who stepped up and, via a massive deflection off the head of Vanaken that wrong-footed Courtois, the ball ricotcheted into the net. 1-1.

Yet, as I stated before, literally anything can happen. With that being said once more, it only took Belgium a mere minute to get back in front. Tielemans found Trossard on the left who invited a couple of defenders to close him down and the current Arsenal man floated a delightful ball into the box.

Tim Ream tried to head away but was smothered by the flying de Keletaere who rose highest to nod emphatically into the top corner. A frantic two minutes but Belgium back on the right side of the scoreline.

Belgium reasserted their dominance from there, barring a couple of half chances for the hosts, with a Dodi Lukebakio header marking a big squandered chance to put them two goals to the good.

Half time: USA 1-2 Belgium

USA did start the second period more on the front foot, with more sustained periods of pressure in the Belgian half. The Europeans did still look rather comfortable, though, and it felt there may have been a hint of purpose about their decision to sit off for the opening stages.

Butttttt that didn't last long. 12 minutes in and a long, rather hopless ball saw Freese come out of his box to take control. The goalkeeper, for whatever reason, hesitated with his clearance and was put under pressure by the goalscorer de Ketelaere who nipped in to toe the ball toward Vanaken.

The subsitute looked up, saw the goal which Ream was desperately trying to cover and spun a lovely little curled strike into the bottom corner. A terrible mistake after a positive period for Pochettino's men.

The USA struggled to really amount anything despite the deficit and some sustained periods of pressure in which they pinned Belgium back. Berhalter had an effort from the edge of the box that sliced just wide of the post and Balogun saw his strike saved from a tight angle by Courtois. But that was about it, it must be said.

In the 92nd minute Belgium would plunge the knife further into the wound of the hosts when they gave the ball away twice in quick succession, the latter of which falling to Romelu Lukaku who fired ruthlessly into the far corner past a helpless Freese.

Final whistle. 4-1. Job done. America well beaten.

Full time: USA 1 - 4 Belgium

USA player ratings

Freese - 3

Freeman - 5 Richards - 4 Ream - 4 Robinson - 6

Adams - 5 McKennie - 5 Tillman - 7

Dest - 5 Balogun - 5 Pulisic - 5

Substitutes Reyna (46') - 5 Berhalter (59') - 6 Pepi (72') - 5

Belgium player ratings

Courtois - 6

Castagne - 6 Ngoy - 6 Mechele - 5 De Cuyper - 7

Onana - N/A (came off after 20 mins) Raskin - 7 Tielemans - 6

Lukebakio - 5 de Ketelaere - 9 Trossard - 7

Substitutes Vanaken (21') - 7 Doku (67') - 6 Lukaku (67') - 6

Man of the Match: Charles de Ketelaere

I don't really think this needs much explaining does it?

Many wondered whether Lukaku may start this game instead, but Rudi Garcia trusted the Atalanta man and was repaid in a big way for his trust.

de Ketelaere was excellent throughout his time on the pitch and made almost every touch he had count for something. A worthy man of the match.