USMNT player ratings: Pulisic & Co. struggle in World Cup exit

The U.S. men’s national team faced a disappointing exit from the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a 4-1 defeat against Belgium in the round of 16. The match took place on July 6, 2026, at Lumen Field in Seattle, marking the fourth time in five World Cups that the U.S. has not progressed beyond this stage.

Match Highlights

Belgium took an early lead with Charles De Ketelaere scoring in the ninth minute, putting the Americans on the back foot. Historically, the U.S. has struggled in World Cup knockout matches after conceding the first goal, entering the game with a 0-0-7 record in such scenarios.

Malik Tillman managed to equalize with a free kick in the 31st minute, but De Ketelaere quickly restored Belgium’s lead just two minutes later. A crucial mistake by U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese in the second half allowed Belgium to extend their advantage to 3-1.

Player Ratings

GK Matt Freese, 2: Freese’s performance raised questions early on. He misread key sequences, particularly for Belgium’s opening goal, and a second blunder led to another crucial score.

RB Alex Freeman, 3: Freeman struggled defensively, particularly during Belgium’s early attacks, failing to support his teammates effectively during critical moments.

CB Chris Richards, 3: Richards was often out of position, allowing Belgium’s forwards to capitalize on defensive lapses.

CB Tim Ream, 3: Ream was outmaneuvered by De Ketelaere, contributing to Belgium’s offensive success.

LB Antonee Robinson, 4: Robinson made some attempts to assist in attack but ultimately fell short of making a significant impact.

CM Weston McKennie, 4: While active on the field, McKennie struggled to create scoring opportunities compared to prior performances.

CM Tyler Adams, 4: Adams initially faced challenges controlling the midfield but improved his performance as the match progressed.

AM Sergiño Dest, 3: His tactical substitution was warranted, but Dest had a rough first half, failing to clear the ball effectively.

AM Malik Tillman, 5: Tillman’s free kick sparked hopes of a comeback, although the team quickly lost momentum afterward.

AM Christian Pulisic, 2: Pulisic had a tough game, losing possession frequently in the first half and sustaining an injury that limited his impact in the second.

ST Folarin Balogun, 5: Despite not scoring, Balogun found positions to threaten the Belgian goal with several attempts.

Substitutes

CM Giovanni Reyna (Dest, 45′), 5: Reyna contributed to a push in the second half but couldn’t change the game’s outcome after Belgium’s third goal.

AM Sebastian Berhalter (Pulisic, 59′), 5: He showed promise with a long-range effort but ultimately couldn’t shift the game’s dynamics.

CM Ricardo Pepi (Adams, 71), NR: Pepi was brought on to add depth to the attack.

LB Max Arfsten (Robinson, 90 + 2), NR: Participated in the closing moments of the match.

ST Haji Wright (Balogun, 90 + 2), NR: Wright entered late, with little impact as the match’s outcome was already decided.

FAQs

What was the score of the USMNT vs Belgium match?

The U.S. men’s national team lost to Belgium 4-1 in the round of 16.

When was the match played?

The match took place on July 6, 2026, at Lumen Field in Seattle.