Co-hosts USA chase a first World Cup quarter-final since 2002, and standing in the way is the one opponent that has haunted them for decades. Belgium have won six of the seven meetings between these nations, including the gut-wrenching 2014 Round of 16 defeat that Tim Howard could not quite save single-handedly. This time the build-up has its own subplot: striker Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension was controversially overturned just a day before kickoff, keeping USA’s top scorer available. Here is how to watch USA vs Belgium, the kick-off time where you are, the lineups and our prediction.
Kickoff is 8:00 PM ET on Monday, July 6 / 1:00 AM BST early Tuesday at Seattle Stadium, a 5pm local start. In the US it is on Fox and Telemundo. In Britain it is free on the BBC, with streaming on iPlayer.
Where to Watch USA vs Belgium
Free on the BBC in the UK. In the US it is on Fox and Telemundo.
Quick tip: in the UK this is free on the BBC and iPlayer, though it is a very late 1am kick-off. Our guide to watching the World Cup in the UK has every channel and time. In the US it is on Fox with Telemundo in Spanish, plus Fubo and Peacock.
USA vs Belgium TV Channel and Live Stream
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The Road to the Round of 16
USA won Group D before a dead-rubber loss cost them nothing. Belgium topped Group G in far less convincing fashion. Every final group table is in our World Cup 2026 groups guide.
USABelgiumThe winner advances to the quarter-finals in Inglewood to face the winner of Portugal vs Spain. If level after 90 minutes, the tie goes to extra time and, if needed, penalties.
Chasing a Ghost from 2014
Every American soccer fan of a certain age knows exactly what happened the last time these two met in a World Cup knockout game. Brazil 2014, Round of 16: Tim Howard produced a tournament-record 15 saves, Chris Wondolowski somehow missed an open goal late on, and Belgium still won 2-1 in extra time. It remains one of the most agonising nights in USMNT history, and Belgium have actually won six of the seven meetings between these countries, the USA's only victory coming all the way back at the inaugural 1930 World Cup. Add a 5-2 warm-up defeat to this same Belgium side back in March, and the psychological weight of this fixture is obvious.
Mauricio Pochettino, though, has built something different from the sides that lost those earlier meetings, a team based on pressing and quick transitions that purred through the group stage and ground out a knockout win over Bosnia despite finishing the game with ten men. The bigger story arrived just a day before kickoff: Folarin Balogun's red card from that Bosnia game, initially expected to rule him out here, was controversially overturned by FIFA following an intervention from US President Trump, and the USA's leading scorer with three goals is now free to lead the line after all. Mark McKenzie and Cristian Roldan are the fitness concerns to watch.
Belgium have needed fortune of their own to get here. They were nowhere near their best against Senegal in the last round, trailing 2-0 with five minutes left before Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans scored in a blur to force extra time, and Tielemans then converted a stoppage-time penalty in the 120th minute to complete one of the great World Cup comebacks. Rudi Garcia has real selection questions of his own, over whether Amadou Onana or a struggling Hans Vanaken partners Tielemans in midfield, and whether Charles De Ketelaere or the veteran Lukaku, still lethal as an impact substitute, leads the line. Zeno Debast remains an injury doubt who has not featured all tournament.
On paper this looks close to a coin flip. Belgium carry more individual match-winning quality in Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku and Leandro Trossard, and a habit of finding late goals when it matters. But this is a different, better organised USA side than the ones Belgium have beaten before, playing at home in front of a raucous Seattle crowd, with Balogun's reprieve giving Pochettino his first-choice attack. We lean, cautiously, towards the co-hosts finally breaking their curse against this opponent, though nobody should be surprised if Belgium's habit of late drama strikes again.
How They Might Line Up
USA have Balogun back after his suspension was overturned, with Mark McKenzie and Cristian Roldan needing fitness checks. Belgium are without the injured Zeno Debast, and Rudi Garcia must choose between De Ketelaere and Lukaku up front, and Onana or Vanaken in midfield.
USA · Pochettino · 4-2-3-1Freese · Freeman, Richards, Ream (c), Robinson · Adams, Tillman · Dest, McKennie, Pulisic · Balogun
BELGIUM · Garcia · 4-3-3Courtois · Castagne, Ngoy, Mechele, Theate · Tielemans, Onana · Trossard, De Bruyne, Doku · De Ketelaere
Who Reaches the Quarter-Finals?
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A Word on Seattle Stadium
Better known as Lumen Field, home of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, this venue is known as Seattle Stadium during the World Cup and holds two Guinness World Records for loudest outdoor stadium. Belgium already know this ground well, having drawn with Egypt here and completed their dramatic comeback against Senegal on this exact pitch. There is more on it at Wikipedia.
Belgium have won six of seven all-time meetings. The USA’s only win came in the 1930 World Cup, 3-0, while Belgium's victories include the famous 2014 World Cup Round of 16 (2-1 after extra time) and a 5-2 friendly win as recently as March 2026.
USA vs Belgium: Quick Answers
What time does USA vs Belgium kick off?
8pm Eastern in the US, which is 5pm local in Seattle. In the UK it is 1am BST in the early hours of Tuesday, July 7, and in Brussels it is 2am. The date is Monday, July 6, 2026.
What channel is USA vs Belgium on in the US?
Fox has the broadcast, with Telemundo in Spanish. You can also stream it via Fubo and Peacock.
Is USA vs Belgium free to watch in the UK?
Yes. It is live and free on the BBC via iPlayer, though it is a very late 1am kick-off.
Is Folarin Balogun playing for the USA?
Yes. His one-match suspension, initially expected to rule him out, was overturned by FIFA the day before kickoff following an intervention from US President Trump, and he is available to start.
What happens if it is a draw after 90 minutes?
This is a knockout tie, so a draw means 30 minutes of extra time and then a penalty shootout if the teams are still level, similar to how Belgium progressed past Senegal in the previous round.
Who does the winner play next?
The winner of USA vs Belgium advances to the quarter-finals in Inglewood, California, to face the winner of Portugal vs Spain.
Has the USA ever beaten Belgium at a World Cup?
No. Belgium have won six of seven all-time meetings, including the famous 2014 Round of 16 defeat when Tim Howard made a tournament-record 15 saves but the USA still lost 2-1 in extra time.
What is the prediction?
We lean cautiously towards the USA, around 2-1, given home advantage and Balogun's reprieve. Belgium's habit of finding late goals, shown against Senegal, means this is far from a formality.
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