Impossible worse. The Soccer World Cup 2026 was left without host countries. First it was Canada, then it was Mexico and finally it was the United States, the three teams failed in their most important matches in their history and ended up being eliminated by Morocco, England and Belgium, respectively.
The round of 16 stage was very big for them and was a hard blow of reality for the “giant” nations of our Concacaf region. In the midst of football and media pressure, Canadians, Mexicans and Americans lacked hierarchy and had plenty of defensive errors that ruined their destiny.
On Saturday Canada ended up thrashed 0-3 with the agile Moroccans in Los Angeles, on Sunday Mexico succumbed 2-3 with the fierce English at the altitude of the Azteca stadium (CDMX) and this Monday the USA said goodbye in the most horrible way, being humiliated 1-4 by the pragmatic Belgians in Seattle.
american nightmare
The United States team, led by Argentine coach Mauricio Pochettino, initially suffered the attacks of a Belgium determined to pressure and impose conditions.
The Europeans caused a scare before the first minute with a shot from outside the area by Timothy Castagne that forced North American goalkeeper Matt Freese to fly to his right to deflect the ball aimed at the corner. Uffff.
Belgium continued to attack and in the 9th minute opened the scoring. The local defense was complicated by a false rejection in their area and irresponsibly let Nicolas Raskin enter through the middle, who took a low cross where Charles de Keteleare emerged to touch the ball and send it into the net. A defensive mistake shared by the Americans Sergiño Dest, Weston McKennie and Chris Richards. 0-1.
With the result against (for the first time in the tournament) the US showed no immediate reaction. The Belgians circulated the ball better and looked more expeditious against a host squad without intensity. Their offensive references such as Christian Pulisic or Folarin Balogun tried to team up but did not look good.
However, at 31 minutes, the United States found parity. A pass from Pulisic to Balogun led to a foul near the area. Malik Tillman took the free kick and his shot was deflected by defender Hans Vanekan who was in the barrier to deceive his goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. Ball inside. Total hubbub. It was 1-1… which didn’t last long.
Belgium extinguished the “gringo” euphoria immediately. At 33′ a collective play from right to left bore fruit.
The warm midfielder Leandro Trossard overcame the lack of resistance from Dest and Alex Freeman, put a cross into the six-yard box and the big De Keteleare beat the veteran Tim Ream and the winger Antonee Robinson to head the ball into the net. 1-2 on the board. Coach Pochettino’s anger (kicking water bottles) summed up the moment.
From then on, tension in the US grew in the atmosphere. Belgium was able to increase its numbers with Dodi Lukebakio but his header went wide (42′). Then, after a side kick from Tillman, striker Balogun tried with a very high shot in front of the frame (44′).
Immediately, Tillman appeared again and made a shot at a rival, the ball was taken by Dest and stretched for the penetration of Balogun whose shot ended up being rejected with difficulty by Belgian defender Nathan Ngoy. That was perhaps the best attacking action by the US in the entire game.
Already in the second half, Belgium continued with its script, managing the actions with its World Cup experience in the face of the desperation of the Americans on the field, in the stands and on TV. In that… we all saw the unthinkable.
At 57′ a deep ball reached the feet of goalkeeper Freese who had left his area. He first controlled the ball with his chest but when he wanted to reject – before De Keteleare’s mark – the ball went to the middle where Vanaken was, who took advantage of the gift and fired a placed shot towards the cabin, overcoming the weak opposition of defender Ream. A blooper that hurt the country. 1-3.
Thus, with “the noose around their necks” the US players tried to shorten the disadvantage but they lacked clarity and rebellion.
The most dangerous thing was a left-footed shot by Sebastian Berhalter that skimmed Belgium’s left post (79′) and a run from midfield by Balogun that ended with a close shot well saved by Courtois’ right hand.
Already in the face of North American anguish, the Belgian squad put the icing on their victorious cake. At 93′, the legendary netbreaker Romelu Lukaku took advantage of a bad clearance by Richards to “vaccinate” Freese with a cross shot, declaring the score 1-4.
The “American Dream” in this 2026 World Cup turned into a nightmare.
This is how they aligned
– United States (1): Matt Freese; Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson (Haji Wright, d. 92); Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams (Ricardo Pepi, d. 73), Malik Tillman; Sergiño Dest (Giovanni Reyna, m. 46), Folarin Balogun (Max Arfsten, m. 92) and Christian Pulisic (Sebastian Berhalter, m. 59).
– Selector: Mauricio Pochettino.
– Belgium (4): Thibaut Courtois Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Brandon Mechele, Maxim de Cuyper; Nicolas Raskin (Axel Witsel, d. 89), Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana; Dodi Lukebakio (Doku, d. 68), Charles de Keteleare (Romelu Lukaku, d. 68) and Leandro Trossard (Alexis Saelemakers, d. 89).
– Selector: Rudi Garcia.
– Goals: 0-1, m. 9: From Keteleare. 1-1, m. 31: Tillman. 1-2, m. 33: From Keteleare. 1-3, m. 57: Vanaken. 1-4, m. 93: Lukaku.
– Referee: Adham Mohammad Tumah Makhadmeh (Jordan). He gave a yellow card to the Americans McKennie (m. 35) and Tillman (m. 68).
– Incidents: Match corresponding to the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup, played at the Lumen Stadium in Seattle before about 69,000 spectators.
