Are USA out of FIFA World Cup 2026 after defeat to Belgium?
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USA became the third and final co-host nation to be eliminated.
The United States have been knocked out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup following their Round of 16 game on Monday evening, losing 4-1 to Belgium at Seattle Stadium.
The USMNT faced an uphill climb after Charles De Ketelaere opened the scoring in the ninth minute.
Malik Tillman’s deflected free-kick equaliser, his second set-piece goal in as many World Cup games, turned the game on its head just after the half-hour mark. But only for Belgium to restore the lead thanks to De Ketelaere’s brace.
The USMNT’s dreams of a comeback were dashed in the second half. Hans Vanaken expanded Belgium’s lead in the 57th minute. Then Romelu Lukaku sealed the victory in stoppage time.
Also read: Are Portugal out of FIFA World Cup 2026 after defeat to Spain?
USA eliminated from the 2026 FIFA World Cup
Despite the return of Folarin Balogun to the starting lineup, the United States men’s national team were eliminated from the World Cup in the round of 16.
They became the third and final co-host nation to be kicked out, following Canada as the first to go, and Mexico.
The Americans have departed at this stage in four of the previous five World Cups; the only exception was in 2018, when they did not even qualify.
Belgium also eliminated the US from the 2014 World Cup. But that game, which went into overtime, felt much closer than this one.
Balogun’s peculiar predicament had dominated the buildup to the match; thus, expectations were naturally considerably greater.
The USMNT had the opportunity to make history, but their bid for the 2026 World Cup fell short. Home-field advantage, amazing spirits, and probably their best squad ever were unable to secure a quarterfinal position. With Monday’s outcome, all three 2026 World Cup co-hosts (USA, Canada, and Mexico) were eliminated in the Round of 16.
Who scored the goal for the USA?
Malik Tillman scored the only goal.
Have USA been eliminated?
Yes, after losing 4-1 to Belgium.
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After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.