United States vs Belgium: Can the Co-Hosts Avenge 2014?

Predictions

We think the co-hosts pull it off at home, and we call it USA 2-1.

The truth is this game is a true coin flip between the USA and Belgium.

But the USA are the slight favorites to go through, and the home crowd in Seattle will be massive.

And Belgium's defense can be broken down, so we think the hosts find a way to win it 2-1.

• Our prediction: the USA win it, 2-1.
• DraftKings: the USA are slight favorites at +155, about a 39% chance, though FanDuel has it dead even, so it is a true coin flip.
• Sports Mole: also calls it USA 2-1.

The Big Story of This Game

American fans have waited 12 long years to see this exact match again.

Because back at the 2014 World Cup, Belgium beat the USA 2-1 after extra time and sent them home in tears.

Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku both scored that night, and get this, both are still in this Belgium team.

USA goalkeeper Tim Howard made a World Cup record 16 saves that day, threw his whole body at everything, and it still was not enough.

So imagine what it means for the USA to get these guys again, this time at home, with the whole country screaming.

And there is a countdown on the other side too.

Because De Bruyne is now 35, he might be playing his last World Cup this year.

And we are slowly coming to the end of Belgium's golden generation.

But both teams have very strong reasons to go all in on this game.

How Did the USA Reach the Round of 16?

The USA have loved being the host nation, and the crowd has powered them along.

It started with a party, a big 4-1 win over Paraguay that had the whole country buzzing.

Then they beat Australia 2-0 to take charge of their group.

They did slip up in the last group game, losing 2-3 to Turkey, but they had already done enough to finish at the top of Group D.

Then came a real test in the round of 32, with a tense 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

They even had to do it the hard way, playing much of the second half with only 10 men after a red card.

Despite that challenge, they dug in, held on, and now the whole country dares to believe they can go far in this tournament.

How Did Belgium Reach the Round of 16?

Belgium were slow to wake up, and then they came alive in the most dramatic way.

They started with a flat 1-1 draw with Egypt, then a goalless 0-0 with Iran, and the doubts were creeping in.

Then the goals arrived in a flood, during a big 5-1 win over New Zealand to win their group.

But the game everyone is still talking about was their round of 32 tie with Senegal.

Belgium were losing 2-0 with only minutes left, and their World Cup was hanging by a thread.

Then Jeremy Doku struck an equalizer in the 89th minute, then won it in extra time to make it 3-2.

It was one of the greatest comebacks of the whole tournament, and it showed that Belgium never truly go away.

What Still Makes Belgium Dangerous?

On paper Belgium sit 9th in the world and the USA are 17th, but the odds say this game is even, so that ranking gap means little.

What really makes Belgium dangerous is their attack, which can hurt absolutely anyone.

Their playmaker Kevin De Bruyne is one of the best passers alive, and one flick from him can unlock a whole defense.

Then they have their striker Romelu Lukaku (Napoli), who is big, strong, and sniffs out goals like few others can.

And their young winger Jeremy Doku is so fast and direct that defenders have nightmares about him.

Behind all of them stands their goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who is like a giant wall and one of the very best in the world.

Their coach Rudi Garcia knows he has goals in this team, so he is happy to play an open, high-scoring game where both teams keep attacking.

So even in a 50-50 game, Belgium have more than enough firepower to win it.

Why the Home Crowd Can Tip It

But this is exactly why the USA are the slight favorites to go through.

Belgium's defense wobbled badly against Senegal, where they let in 2 goals and almost went out.

And the USA are young, quick, and relentless.

Which is exactly the kind of team to run at a shaky defense.

Their forward Christian Pulisic is the player the whole USA attack runs through.

We know he can break a defense apart with his speed.

Next to him is their midfielder Weston McKennie, all power and drive, always arriving late in the box.

And their left-back Antonee Robinson (Fulham) flies up the wing all game long to join the attack.

Then there is the loudest weapon of all, a home crowd in Seattle that will carry the USA through the tough moments.

So this really is a coin flip, and Belgium cannot take the co-hosts lightly.

The winner takes a huge step in the knockout stage, and both teams truly believe it can be them.

Our Call: United States 2-1 Belgium

So how do we see a game this even ending?

We think a huge home crowd in Seattle pushes the USA to the win.

The USA are the slight favorites to go through, and Belgium's shaky defense is the one Senegal scored twice against.

Those things tip a coin-flip game the hosts' way, so our call is a USA win, 2-1.

Sports Mole see it the same way and also call it USA 2-1.

And honestly, do not be shocked if this one drags all the way to extra time and a nerve-shredding shootout.

Where and When Is the Match?

The game is on Monday, July 6, 2026.

It is played at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington.

And kickoff is at 5:00 PM local time, which is 8:00 PM Eastern.

The winner then reaches the quarterfinals, and the loser is out of the World Cup.

You can find all the extra details on the match page.

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