U.S. Men's National Team Loses 4-1 to Belgium in World Cup Round of 16

The U.S. men's national team lost 4-1 to Belgium in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 on July 6 in Seattle. Belgium took a 1-0 lead after nine minutes. Midfielder Malik Tillman tied the score at 1-1 with a free kick, but Belgium scored again less than two minutes later.

Belgian forward Charles De Ketelaere scored both of his team's first-half goals. In the 57th minute, midfielder Hans Vanaken scored after U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese slipped outside the penalty area.

Forward Romelu Lukaku added a stoppage-time goal to complete the scoring. U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino said after the match, "Today we didn't show our real quality. " Midfielder Tyler Adams said, "It stinks.

Tonight was not a good performance overall. It's not what we look to achieve. " The U.S. entered the match after a FIFA disciplinary panel delayed striker Folarin Balogun's automatic one-game suspension by one year, allowing him to play.

The suspension stemmed from a red card Balogun received in the Round of 32 against Bosnia-Herzegovina. President Trump had called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to encourage review of the red card. The Royal Belgian Football Association stated it would protest Balogun's inclusion.

U.S. defender and captain Tim Ream said the controversy had no impact on the team's focus. Belgium advanced to the quarterfinals for the third time in the past four World Cups and will face Spain on July 10 in Los Angeles.

The U.S. had recorded three wins in the group stage against Paraguay, Australia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina, with all its matches played on U.S. soil for the first time in three decades.