Preview: USA vs Belgium – prediction, team news, schedule | 2026 World Cup

The USA’s quest to reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup for the first time since 2002 will take place on Monday when they face Belgium at Lumen Field in Seattle.

2026 World Cup hosts USA recorded a 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the final round of the tournament, while Belgium recorded a 3-2 win over Senegal.

Game preview

The USA’s best ever appearance in the World Cup came back in 1930, when it finished third, but the national team has not been able to make it past the quarter-finals since then.

In 2002, the United States was in eight finals, but has fallen in the last 16 in each of the last three tournaments (2010, 2014, 2022).

Mauricio Pochettino’s team topped Group D with six points to secure a place in the round of 32, where they managed to beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0.

The USA’s reward for beating Belgium will be the last eight game where they will face either Portugal or Spain, and these European giants will meet on Monday night.

Belgium have actually won six of the last seven meetings between the two teams, with the USA’s only win coming in the 1930 World Cup.

© Consport / Xinhua / Cao Can

The last match between Belgium and the USA was in March 2026, and the first was a 5-2 success, making it six wins in a row against the Stars and Stripes.

Belgium finished top of Group G with five points to secure a place in the round of 32, then clashed with Senegal.

Rudi Garcia’s side trailed Senegal 2-0 going into the last five minutes of the last 32, with Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans scoring back-to-back to make it 2-2, before the latter scored a penalty in the 120th minute to make it 3-2.

The Red Devils finished third in the 2018 World Cup but were actually knocked out in the group stage four years ago in Qatar, which was a huge disappointment.

Belgium will fancy their chances of victory in this match given their good record against the USA, but the Stars and Stripes will have the opportunity to play at home.

USA’s World Cup form:

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USA form (all tournaments):

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Belgium’s World Cup form:

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Belgium form (all competitions):

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Team News

© Consport / Paul Kitagaki Jr. / ZUMA Press Wire

USA will be without Folarin Balogun through suspension, the forward was sent off during his team’s 2-0 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina last week.

This is the kind of information you should consider when you’re thinking of betting on the World Cup, and we’ve included it in our tip World Cup betting guide.

Balogun has scored three goals in the 2026 World Cup and his absence is a big deal for the USA; the beneficiary is expected to be Ricardo Pepi, who has found the net 13 times in 41 games for his country.

Mark McKenzie (foot) and Cristian Roldan (muscle) need tests before the game, but there will be starts for the likes of Sergino Dest, Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams.

As for Belgium, Zeno Debast (leg) remains a doubt, the 22-year-old wants to recover from the issue that has sidelined him during the entire tournament so far.

Lukaku has scored two goals in four games at this World Cup, but the 33-year-old is expected to make another appearance on the bench blowing the whistle, before appearing in the second half of the tournament.

Leandro Trossard is fit despite injury concerns, while Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku will also be notable starters for the Red Devils in the tournament.

The USA starts with the schedule:

Freeze; Freeman, Richards, Ream, Robinson; Tillman, Adams, McKennie; Dest, Pepi, Pulisic

Belgium may start the list:

Courtois; Castagne, Theater, Mechele, De Cuyper; Vanaken, Tielemans; Trossard, De Bruyne, Doku; De Ketelaere

We say: USA 2-1 Belgium

This is a tough game to call, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see it go to penalties, but we like the USA to do the job in normal time to advance to the last eight.

For data analysis of the most likely results, score lines and more for this game please click here.