The United States Men's National Team (USMNT) expressed gratitude to its supporters following a 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the Round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which ended the host nation's campaign.
USMNT's Message of Thanks
In a post on X after the elimination, the USMNT acknowledged the role fans played throughout the tournament. "You believed. You filled stadiums. You brought the game into homes and communities across the country. Most of all, you showed everyone what this crest means. Thank you," the team wrote.
Match Overview: Belgium Dominates
Belgium secured a commanding victory at Seattle Stadium, advancing to the quarter-finals. Charles De Ketelaere earned Player of the Match with a brace, while Hans Vanaken scored his first FIFA World Cup goal. Substitute Romelu Lukaku added a stoppage-time strike, marking his third consecutive World Cup match with a goal.
The USA briefly equalised through Malik Tillman's deflected free-kick, but a costly goalkeeping error by Matt Freese allowed Belgium to regain the lead before Lukaku sealed the win.
Impact on the Tournament
The defeat made the United States the last of the three co-host nations to exit the tournament, following Canada and Mexico. Belgium will face Spain in the quarter-finals on July 10, after Spain eliminated Portugal in the Round of 16.
