World Cup Round of 16: Belgium Dominates USA After Spain's Late Win Over Portugal

Monday's World Cup action featured intense clashes as the knockout stage unfolded. First up was the long-awaited Iberian duel between Spain and Portugal, where Spain showed strong control but struggled to score until stoppage time. Mikel Merino finally broke through after a precise pass from Ferran Torres, sealing a 1-0 victory for Spain.

Later in Seattle, the U.S. Men's National Team faced a tough challenge against Belgium. Despite the return of Folarin Balogun following the overturning of his suspension, the Americans couldn't keep pace with the European powerhouse. Charles De Ketelaere opened scoring early and quickly doubled the lead. The U.S. did respond with a free-kick goal by Malik Tillman, but Belgium pulled ahead again thanks to a defensive blunder and finished the match with Romelu Lukaku's stoppage-time goal, ending 4-1.

Round of 16 Results - Monday

• Spain 1, Portugal 0
• Belgium 4, USA 1

We followed every moment live, capturing the ups and downs of these intense games. The USMNT’s journey ended on a disappointing note but not without moments that fired up the nation.

USMNT Faces Harsh Reality Against Belgium

Seattle’s Lumen Field buzzed with energy before fading as Belgium took control early. The Americans seemed outmatched in a game where their usual cohesion faltered. Left back Antonee Robinson admitted, "It was unlike any other performances we've had this summer, to be honest. It's hard to say where it went wrong." Still, memories of the team's spirited run linger, even if the final score stung.

Christian Pulisic's Injury Dampens USHopes

Shortly after conceding a critical goal, star midfielder Christian Pulisic left the field in the 59th minute, replaced by Sebastian Berhalter. Pulisic appeared upset on the bench while receiving treatment for his lower right leg.

Defensive Errors Hurt US Early in Second Half

A disastrous sequence began in the 57th minute when goalkeeper Matt Freese stepped far outside his box but failed to clear the ball, allowing Charles De Ketelaere to regain possession. Hans Vanaken then capitalized with a simple finish past defender Tim Ream, who couldn’t stop the ball from rolling into the net. That goal deflated the crowd and shifted momentum firmly toward Belgium.

Belgium Secures Quarterfinal Spot

Romelu Lukaku’s late strike into the bottom right corner put the finishing touch on Belgium’s 4-1 win. The Red Devils will next face Spain in the quarterfinals.

Match Flow Recap

• 9th minute: De Ketelaere opens scoring for Belgium.
• 31st minute: Malik Tillman equalizes with a stunning free kick.
• 32nd minute: De Ketelaere scores again to retake the lead.
• 57th minute: Defensive mishap leads to Vanaken’s goal, extending Belgium’s lead.
• Stoppage time: Lukaku seals victory with a final goal.

Lineups and Surprises

Belgium started without key players Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku, both on the bench after early exits in their previous game. The full starting lineup included Courtois, Castagne, Ngoy, Mechele, De Cuyper, Raskin, Onana, Tielemans, Lukebakio, De Ketelaere, and Troussard.

The USMNT fielded a 4-3-3 with Matt Freese in goal, defenders Sergiño Dest, Chris Richards, Tim Ream (captain), and Antonee Robinson. Midfielders Tyler Adams, Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman supported forwards Alex Freeman, Christian Pulisic, and Folarin Balogun, who returned from suspension just in time.

Political Pressure Surrounds Match Timing

Off the field, the England vs. Mexico Round of 16 game saw political influence as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer intervened to keep the kickoff time at 8 p.m. ET. The change was considered due to fan safety concerns amid forecasted thunderstorms and recent crowd incidents, but the original schedule held firm.