The 2026 FIFA World Cup field narrowed further on Monday as the knockout stage continued, with Spain and Belgium becoming the fifth and sixth teams to advance to the quarterfinals. Spain outlasted Portugal in a tense match, while Belgium delivered a decisive 4-1 victory over the United States Men's National Team in Seattle, ending the USMNT's hopes of reaching the last eight for only the second time in modern tournament history.
Belgium struck early, with Charles De Ketelaere tapping in a cross just nine minutes into the match to silence the sold-out, U.S.-heavy crowd at Seattle Stadium. The USMNT responded in the 31st minute when Malik Tillman curled a free kick past legendary Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, thanks to a deflection off a Belgian defender. The equalizer briefly restored momentum for the Americans, but their defensive frailties quickly resurfaced.
Just two minutes after Tillman's goal, De Ketelaere struck again, leaping over veteran defender Tim Ream to head the ball into the net. The quick concession visibly frustrated USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who kicked a row of Powerade bottles on the sideline as Belgium celebrated. The first half ended with Belgium dominating possession at 53 percent and outshooting the U.S. five to one in shots on goal, creating four big chances that could have widened the gap further.
The second half brought more misfortune for the Americans. In the 57th minute, goalkeeper Matt Freese attempted to clear a through ball but got his foot caught in the turf, allowing De Ketelaere to intercept and set up Hans Vanaken for an easy goal. The error proved costly, as Belgium extended their lead to 3-1. To compound the USMNT's woes, star forward Christian Pulisic, known as "Captain America," was forced to leave the match after injuring his right foot on a Belgian defender's heel during a shot attempt. Pochettino substituted Sebastian Berhalter in his place.
Belgium added a fourth goal late in the match to seal the emphatic victory. The USMNT's elimination means they will not replicate the achievement of the 2002 squad, which remains the only American team to reach the quarterfinals in the modern FIFA World Cup format. The loss also ends a promising run that saw the team advance past the group stage and win a Round of 32 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Spain, meanwhile, continued their strong campaign by defeating Portugal in a closely contested match. The Spanish side, known for their possession-based style, controlled the tempo and capitalized on key opportunities to secure their place in the quarterfinals. They will now face Belgium in a highly anticipated matchup that pits two of the tournament's most talented squads against each other.
The day's results leave eight teams still in contention for the World Cup title, with the quarterfinal round set to begin later this week. For the USMNT, the focus now shifts to rebuilding and preparing for future international competitions, including the 2028 Olympics and the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
