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USMNT Faces Belgium Monday With Quarterfinal Berth and Balogun's Return on the Line

Folarin Balogun's red card suspension was lifted by FIFA, making him eligible for the Round of 16 match in Seattle at 8 p.m. ET.

USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago
USMNT vs. Trinidad and Tobago      Christian Pulisic Usmnt    Erik Drost / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
By Free News Press Editorial Team
Published July 6, 2026 at 1:34 AM PDT

The United States Men's National Team plays Belgium on Monday in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, with a quarterfinal berth at stake. A win would put the U.S. in the final eight for the first time since 2002.

The Americans enter the match with a significant boost. Star striker Folarin Balogun received a red card in the second half of the U.S.'s 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32. That booking would have kept him out of Monday's match, but FIFA has since suspended the red card, making Balogun eligible to play.

According to CBS Sports, Belgium beat Senegal 3-2 to advance to the Round of 16. The Belgians carry confidence on offense and scored five goals against the United States in a friendly earlier this year.

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at a Seattle venue. Odds from FanDuel Sportsbook list Belgium at +160 on the 90-minute money line, with the U.S. at +170 and a draw at +240. The over/under for total goals sits at 2.5. Belgium are -118 to advance, with the U.S. at -104.

Soccer analyst Martin Green, who covers the game for SportsLine and holds a 16-6 record on his 2026 World Cup picks, is leaning toward the over in this match. "Captain Christian Pulisic played for 88 minutes against Bosnia and Herzegovina after shaking off a calf injury, which gives the team a major boost," Green said. "We could see Pulisic and Ricardo Pepi in attack for this game, with Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman getting forward to support them. The Belgians could struggle to deal with that quartet."

Belgium counter with two proven offensive threats in Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne. The Americans have scored at least twice in every match of the tournament so far.

Christian Pulisic during USMNT v Belgium on March 28 2026 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia
Christian Pulisic during USMNT v Belgium on March…      Christian Pulisic Soccer    Bryan Berlin / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)