USA vs Belgium: Can the USA Shock the World in the World Cup 2026 Knockout Stage?

The brackets are set, and the host country is ready to explode with excitement. After a physical and exciting 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, the US Men's National Soccer Team has its ticket for the World Cup Round of 16 ready to go. Their opponent is the powerhouse in European soccer, Belgium.  

This match-up is a rematch of the classic USA vs Belgium match-up from the 2014 World Cup, where the USA was eliminated in the knockout rounds after Belgium was able to score one goal in extra time, thanks in large part to a record number of saves by the United States goalkeeper. Now, the US plays on home turf and with an entirely different, talented, fearless group of players. The USA has their chance for history with an opportunity for its young and talented roster to make its mark, and for any current players who have not been on this stage before, they will have the opportunity of a lifetime. 

Lock In Your Connectivity Plan 

Whether you’re traveling to Seattle to watch the game in person or just watching it at home from your sofa, you must stay connected with high-speed data! With Lyca Mobile's premium cellular data, you can easily stream pre-game commentary, check for live line-ups during the game and share your reactions with friends and family at the stadium!  

At Lyca Mobile, they’ve designed three fabulous promotional rates to give you access to maximum coverage throughout the tournament. 

$33  High Data Plan: This plan comes with 18GB of 5G, high-speed data, as well as unlimited talk/text (within the USA) & unlimited international talk/text (to over 100 countries), all for $7.50 every 30 days. 

Unlimited Plus: This plan has unlimited data usage and includes unlimited international calling/texting (to over 100 countries), for only $18.00 every 30 days. Digital activation of your service is instantaneous. 

Unlimited Pro: For only $29.50 per 30 days, this plan provides the greatest value with UNLIMITED DATA and unlimited international calling. 

As the 2026 World Cup will take place in three different countries (the United States, Mexico and Canada), all the plans offered in Mexico and Canada include seamless data roaming across the entire tournament. Therefore, if you are traveling between Mexico and Canada, you need a travel eSIM to follow your team's knockout bracket progress during the tournament. Your phone will change automatically without unexpected charges that could occur due to going over your plan's data limits. For the ones traveling across borders, a World Cup eSIM is essential. 

You will have an easier time than ever before activating an eSIM for the World Cup, as both types of cards can be activated either with a prepaid plan or a pay-as-you-go plan before your first game. You'll be able to stay connected when the matches happen! 

When and Where to Watch? 

Match Date: Monday, July 6, 2026   
Seattle Local Start Time: 5:00 PM   
Brussels Start Time: Tuesday, July 7, 2026 @ 2:00 AM CEST  
U.S. Coverage: FOX Sports will broadcast the entire match live and also provide streaming services through FOX Sports Digital and FuboTV. 

History of USA vs Belgium Game  

The momentum of the USA squad is at an all-time high, with historical data showing the USA Team has had a tactical advantage in all of their matches against Belgium. Belgium has gone on to win 6 successive matches against the USA in the past. The last game the two countries faced off was an international friendly in March 2026 in Atlanta, where Belgium demonstrated their skill with a 5-2 victory over the USA by scoring all 5 of their goals in the second half. 

USA vs Belgium Predictions 

When looking at the game itself, one could expect an emotionally charged, highly competitive contest between the United States (U.S.) and Belgium for a chance at continued success in the 2026 World Cup. The United States has an advantage due to its extremely passionate fanbase, which will give it tremendous support as it attempts to defeat Belgium. The U.S. also has some highly talented players who can create goals from nothing. The starting midfield pair of the U.S. will pressure Belgium on their first few possessions to create a quick transition opportunity for the U.S. to create a signature counterattack as a result. 

What next for the USA? 

Assuming victory for the USA, they might win by a score of 2-1 after surpassing Belgium's first 2 possessions with brilliant play resulting in a signature counter-attack goal. The United States has everything on the line against Belgium to keep its hopes alive for the quarterfinals of the tournament in 2026. Their ability to win this game against Belgium would mean that they would be one-third of the way to being declared "World Champions". To use a basketball analogy, the U.S. has the opportunity for an "upset game" in Seattle, where they would have already defeated one of the premier soccer teams in Europe, which has traditionally beaten U.S. teams in World Cup history. This means that the U.S. will have to play significantly better than Belgium. If they do so, the U.S. will be on an incredible run by the end of this round. This will undoubtedly make for one of the biggest advances in the history of U.S. 

Based on the official bracket pathway of the tournament, the winner of this match will advance directly to play one of the elite European soccer dynasties, making for tremendous potential quarter-final matchups versus soccer heavyweights such as Spain, Portugal, Austria, or Croatia. Surviving this round will set up an extremely historic match and bring the American team to within inches of soccer immortality. 

So, if you are watching at home or traveling get a travel eSIM and do not miss a minute of probable history being created.