USA 1-4 Belgium Result: De Ketelaere Brace, Freese Error, Co-Hosts Eliminated
Belgium beat USA 4-1 in Seattle on July 6, 2026. De Ketelaere scored twice, Freese gifted a goal, Lukaku added a fourth. Full minute-by-minute recap of USA's World Cup exit.
Belgium beat the USA 4-1 at Lumen Field in Seattle - and eliminated the last co-host from the 2026 World Cup. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice. Matt Freese made a costly error. Romelu Lukaku sealed it in stoppage time.
Mexico and Canada are already out. USA join them. All three North American hosts - gone before the quarterfinals.
Belgium face Spain in Los Angeles on July 11.
USA vs Belgium final score
USA 1 - Belgium 4
| Minute | What happened | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 9’ | Charles De Ketelaere (assist Raskin) | 0-1 |
| 31’ | Malik Tillman free kick - deflected off Vanaken | 1-1 |
| 33’ | De Ketelaere header (assist Trossard) | 1-2 |
| HT | Half-time - Dest subbed off | 1-2 |
| 57’ | Hans Vanaken - Freese error, De Ketelaere steals | 1-3 |
| ~57’ | Christian Pulisic injured - subbed off | 1-3 |
| 90+3’ | Romelu Lukaku (assist Vanaken press) | 1-4 |
| FT | USA eliminated at home | 1-4 |
Stadium: Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington.
Match timeline - minute by minute
First half - Belgium strike fast, USA fight back briefly
Minute 9: Disaster for the USA. Nicolas Raskin crossed low. The defense did not clear. De Ketelaere tapped in from point-blank range. USA 0-1 Belgium. Nightmare start at home.
Minute 31: Hope for the crowd. Malik Tillman fired a free kick. It deflected off Hans Vanaken and wrong-footed the keeper. USA 1-1 Belgium. First US shot of the game - and it went in.
Minute 33: Just two minutes later, Belgium answered. Leandro Trossard beat Sergino Dest on the left and crossed. De Ketelaere headed in at the far post over Tim Ream. USA 1-2 Belgium. De Ketelaere brace. USA never recovered the momentum.
Half-time: Gregg Berhalter pulled Dest - torched by Trossard all half. 1-2 - still alive, but shaky.
Second half - Freese gifts the game away
Minute 57: The moment the tournament ended for the USA. Matt Freese came out to chest down a long ball. He took too long. De Ketelaere stole it. Vanaken rolled into an empty net from distance. USA 1-3 Belgium.
Same minute: Christian Pulisic went off injured. The star gone. The crowd silent.
Final minutes: USA had possession but no cutting edge. Belgium stayed compact.
Minute 90+3: Romelu Lukaku came off the bench and finished low from a tight angle after Vanaken’s pressing forced another mistake. USA 1-4 Belgium. Emphatic. Embarrassing for the hosts.
Who scored?
| Player | Team | Minute | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charles De Ketelaere | Belgium | 9’, 33’ | Tap-in + header |
| Malik Tillman | USA | 31’ | Deflected free kick |
| Hans Vanaken | Belgium | 57’ | After Freese error |
| Romelu Lukaku | Belgium | 90+3’ | Low finish |
The numbers
| Stat | USA | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 4 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 0.67 | 2.15 |
| Shots | Few | Controlled |
Belgium were sharper. USA mistakes decided it.
Why this hurts for the USA
- Third co-host eliminated - after Mexico (2-3 vs England) and Canada (0-3 vs Morocco).
- Round of 16 exit - did not match the 2002 quarterfinal run.
- Freese error at 57’ - the killer moment on home soil.
- Balogun was available (ban suspended) but made no impact.
What is next?
| Team | Next |
|---|---|
| Belgium | Quarterfinal vs Spain - July 11, Los Angeles |
| USA | Eliminated - World Cup over |
FAQ
What was USA vs Belgium score? USA 1-4 Belgium. De Ketelaere x2, Tillman, Vanaken, Lukaku.
Are all co-hosts out? Yes. USA, Mexico, Canada - all eliminated.
Who did De Ketelaere score against? USA - at 9’ and 33’, plus assist on Vanaken’s goal.
Quick summary
- 1-4 Belgium in Seattle
- De Ketelaere brace
- Freese error = 3-1
- Lukaku fourth in stoppage time
- All hosts out of World Cup 2026
The American dream ended in Seattle. Belgium march on to face Spain.