USA - Belgium / Round of 16 FIFA World Cup 2026

Follow the LIVE broadcast of the USA vs. Belgium Round of 16 match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on ŠPORT.sk! The game, which can also be watched live on JOJ play, kicks off at 2:00 AM.

The Round of 16 program in Seattle, North America, promises one of the most open and dynamic clashes of the ongoing World Cup. The home team, the United States, is showcasing an exceptionally high tempo and offensive hunger in front of their own fans. In contrast, favored Belgium, despite an impressive unbeaten streak, has delivered rather unconvincing and sluggish performances in the tournament so far.

The American squad handled their first knockout match in the Round of 16 against Bosnia and Herzegovina superbly, advancing with a 2-0 victory. This was despite facing a challenging disadvantage from the 64th minute after a harsh red card was shown to Folarin Balogun. A huge relief for the entire coaching staff, however, is that FIFA, after reviewing the video, overturned the suspension for the team's top three-goal scorer, making the dynamic forward fully available against Belgium.

Mauricio Pochettino's Argentine-led team has displayed attractive attacking football throughout the tournament, scoring at least two goals in each of their four appearances to date. This makes them the only team outside of the European and South American confederations to achieve this feat. The USA averages 13 shots per game, and their last 9 international matches have seen an average of 4.1 goals. Their offensive prowess isn't reliant on a single hero, as their 8 tournament goals have been fairly distributed among six different scorers.

Midfielder Malik Tillman confirmed his excellent form in the previous round, sealing the American progression with a superb free-kick. Notably, in his previous scoring appearances for the national team, he always found the net before halftime. Pochettino's only minor concerns are the questionable fitness of defender Mark McKenzie and midfielder Cristian Roldan.

On the other side, Belgium only secured their top spot in Group G thanks to a convincing 5-1 triumph over New Zealand in the final matchday, having previously teetered on the brink of elimination after sterile draws with Egypt and Iran. The team, managed by Domenico Tedesco, experienced an even more dramatic escape in their Round of 16 battle against Senegal, where they were trailing a daunting 0-2 in the 86th minute. However, in a thrilling finish, goals from Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans saw them rise from the dead, forcing extra time. Tielemans then sealed an incredible 3-2 comeback with a converted penalty in the 125th minute.

The "Red Devils" are now unbeaten in 17 consecutive international matches, yet analytical data clearly reveals their tendency for sluggish starts. In the tournament, the Belgians have converted only one of their 39 shots into a goal before halftime, while scoring seven times from 50 attempts in the second halves and extra time. Overall, they have unleashed the most shots on goal of any participant in the championship, with their tally reaching 92, an extreme average of 23 attempts per game.

In midfield, captain Tielemans will face immense physical demands. With aggressive American pressing, he could struggle to win balls without committing fouls. Meanwhile, the availability of center-back Zeno Debast remains questionable, and the towering striker Romelu Lukaku is expected to receive significantly more playing time up front after his crucial goal.

While historical head-to-head records clearly favor the European side, with the United States losing their last six encounters and suffering a heavy 2-5 defeat to Belgium in a March friendly, the overall context of the World Cup is entirely different. The home team, playing in front of a fantastic crowd in Seattle, exhibits immense energy, constantly pushes for goals, relies on wide play, and Folarin Balogun's return provides crucial assurance in front of goal.

Although Belgium boasts tremendous attacking output, their defense has kept a clean sheet only once against a defensive Egypt side and will be extremely vulnerable to fast American counter-attacks. An exhilarating and open game with goals on both sides is expected, where the determination of the American team, fueled by their high tempo and home advantage, should ultimately prevail.