The United States men's national soccer team was eliminated from the FIFA World Cup on July 6, 2026, after losing to Belgium 4-1 in the round of 16. Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere scored the first goal in the 9th minute, followed by a free-kick goal from the U.S.'s Malik Tillman in the 31st minute. However, De Ketelaere scored again shortly after, giving Belgium a 2-1 lead at halftime.
In the second half, U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese failed to clear the ball, allowing Belgium's Hans Vanaken to score in the 57th minute. Romelu Lukaku added a fourth goal in stoppage time, sealing the match at 4-1.
The match followed a controversy regarding U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, who was initially suspended for a red card but was cleared to play after intervention from President Donald Trump, who urged FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the case. Belgium objected to Balogun's eligibility but FIFA's Appeal Committee rejected their request.
Belgium, having previously defeated Senegal 3-2 in the round of 32, will advance to face Spain in the quarterfinals. The U.S. team had previously won Group D and defeated Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 to reach the knockout stage.