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The United States will look to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 2002 when they host Belgium in the round of 16 at Lumen Field in Seattle in the early hours of Tuesday.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side impressed in the group stage, winning two of their three games in that phase to top Group D before securing a 2-0 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the round of 16 to reach this point.
Belgium topped Group G without ever truly convincing, registering just one victory from three matches, before coming from 2-0 down against Senegal in the final minutes to win 3-2 after extra time in their Round of 16 clash.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions, as well as our best 2026 World Cup betting offers and free bets.
USA vs. Belgium key stats
- Leandro Trossard has directly contributed to three goals across his last two games.
- USA have found the net before the interval in each of their four games at the 2026 World Cup.
- Each of the last three H2H meetings between the two nations has produced goals at both ends.
USA vs. Belgium preview: Red Devils’ slow burner faces fast-starting USMNT
| USA | vs | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| 17th | FIFA Ranking | 9th |
| Christian Pulisic (89) | Most Caps | Axel Witsel (138) |
| Christian Pulisic (33) | Most Goals | Romelu Lukaku (92) |
| 1023 | Total Caps | 1150 |
| 133 | Total Goals | 222 |
| 0 | Uncapped Players | 1 |
The USMNT have reached the Round of 16 for the seventh time in their history and will be eager to banish memories of their exit at this stage in the previous World Cup.
The Stars and Stripes secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the last round, although the result was overshadowed by Folarin Balogun's straight red card for a challenge on Tarik Muharemović, a dismissal that initially carried an automatic one-match suspension.
The USA have scored the opener in each of their four games in the World Cup.
That punishment would have ruled the USA's three-goal top scorer out of this clash, but FIFA's Disciplinary Committee announced on Sunday that the suspension would instead be deferred for a one-year probationary period, clearing Balogun to face Belgium.
Even before that news, the Americans had shown a remarkable ability to spread goals across the squad, with their 10 strikes at the tournament coming from six different scorers alongside two own goals, and now they get their talisman back for their biggest game of this year's global competition so far.
Pochettino's men have also found the net at least twice in every game in this tournament, highlighting how much of a force they have been in attack in recent times.
Belgium's route to this stage has been anything but straightforward, scraping through Group G on the final matchday with a thumping win over New Zealand after back-to-back draws against Egypt and Iran threatened to derail their campaign entirely.
The Red Devils’ round of 32 tie against Senegal took that resilience to another level, as Rudi Garcia's side trailed 2-0 with minutes remaining before Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans, with the latter then converting a penalty to complete only the second two-goal comeback in World Cup knockout history since 2018.
Belgium have conceded the first goal in 50% of their four matches at the ongoing global tournament.
The numbers behind their performances reveal a side that operates on a slow burn; Belgium have converted just 2.6% of their shots before half-time at this tournament, compared to 14% after the break, meaning they become more dangerous as games wear on.
That said, the Red Devils have now gone 17 matches without defeat since losing 3-1 to Ukraine in March 2025, and will hope that resilience counts on Tuesday.
USA vs. Belgium form guide & betting tips
| USA | vs | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
LWWLW |
Form | WDDWD |
| 11 | Goals For | 13 |
| 6 | Goals Against | 4 |
WWLW |
World Cup | DDWD |
Whispers predicts: USA 2-2 Belgium
This encounter looks evenly balanced, with the bookies pricing Belgium and the USA to win in regulation time at 13/8 (2.62), and it will not be much of a surprise if the encounter extends beyond 90 minutes, just like the Red Devils’ round of 16 clash with Senegal.
Meanwhile, other clearer markets with similar returns are worth considering, with Trossard to score or assist at 13/8 (2.62), an excellent option given the attacker has been heavily involved in the Belgian's strikes in recent times.
Both teams to score also have a low-risk return at 4/7 (1.57), given how the last three meetings between the sides have panned out, while the USA to score in the first half at 1/1 (2.00) is well supported by the fact that Pochettino's side have found the net before the interval in all their matches at the 2026 World Cup. Meanwhile, our 2-2 correct score is available at 11/1 (12.00).
> Both teams to score at 4/7 (1.57) | Likelihood: Possible
> USA to score in first half at 1/1 (2.00) | Likelihood: Probable
> Leandro Trossard to Score or Assist at 13/8 (2.62) | Likelihood: Probable
> Correct score: USA 2-2 Belgium at 11/1 (12.00) | Likelihood: Outsider