The United States men’s football team is set to face Belgium in the Round of 16.
The knockout clash follows victories over Bosnia and Herzegovina and Senegal, with a quarter-final spot at stake.
WASHINGTON — The United States men’s football team is scheduled to face Belgium in the Round of 16 on Monday, July 6, 2026, at Lumen Field in Washington, USA. The match comes after the Belgium national football team defeated Senegal 3-2 in the Round of 32 to advance and face the United States. Meanwhile, the United States defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 to secure its place in the Round of 16.
Folarin Balogun plays as a striker for League 1 and the United States national team. Folarin was suspended after getting a red card in the 64th minute during a match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. A VAR revealed that he stepped on the ankle of Bosnia’s player Tarik. USA’s coach, Mauricio Pochettino, defended Balogun, saying it was not intentional.
After review by the disciplinary committee, FIFA decided to suspend the one-match ban for one year, allowing Folarin to participate in the match against Belgium. Folarin is one of the United States’ most influential players.
United States’ Folarin Balogun walks off the field after receiving a red card during the World Cup round of 32 soccer match between the United States and Bosnia in Santa Clara, Calif near San Francisco, Wednesday, July 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu). Photo: Jeff Chiu/AP. © 2026 AP
Both the United States and Belgium won their previous matches to advance to the Round of 16. They now have a task of delivering another strong performance in this knockout clash, as only the winner will progress to the quarterfinals, and the loser will be eliminated.
Since the 2026 FIFA World Cup began, 36 teams have been eliminated, leaving 12 teams in competition. France, Morocco, Norway, and England have already qualified for the quarterfinals, while 8 teams, including the United States and Belgium, are still competing in the remaining Round of 16 matches.
“I want to thank our supporters for the continuous support and love they’ve shown us. I want to tell them to continue believing in us. We have come a long way. We promise to give everything we have on the pitch and make our fans proud. Keep cheering us on. Thank you,” said Malik during an interview with Zenger News.
The United States reached the knock-out stage after topping Group D with six point, While Belgium secured the first spot with five points in group G They moved to Round of 32 with zeal and determination where they recorded victories to move to Round 16.
The competition becomes even more intense in this phase, and the winner will secure a place in the quarter-finals while the loser will be knocked out of the tournament. The winner of the United States and Belgium match will either face Portugal or Spain in the quarter-finals on 10 July in Los Angeles.