黑料福利社

It鈥檚 been a beautiful of soccer in Seattle.听

For the past 22 days, the Emerald City has played the backdrop for five games between eight different countries while proving itself as one of 鈥� if not the greatest 鈥� soccer city in the United States.听

Now, it鈥檚 time for Seattle to take its final bow on the stage. And there鈥檚 no matchup more fitting than Monday's round of 16 game.听

Seattle will host its sixth and final game of the World Cup when the United States, the Group D winners and seven-time CONCACAF Gold Cup champions, face Belgium, the Group G winners and No. 9 team according to the FIFA World Rankings, with a place in the on the line.听

So here鈥檚 what to watch when the United States faces Belgium on Monday:

The United States vs. Belgium

When: 5 p.m. Monday聽

Where: Seattle Stadium

TV: Fox 鈥� John Strong (play-by-play), Stu Holden (color), Jenny Taft (sideline)

Most recent matchup: Belgium and the United States faced each other three months ago during a friendly exhibition at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. It didn鈥檛 go well for coach Mauricio Pochettino鈥檚 team.听

Belgium thrashed the United States, 5-2. Midfielder Weston McKennie put the Stars and Stripes ahead in the 39th minute. The Red Devils responded with five goals, as defender Zeno Debast, midfielder Amadou Onana, striker Charles De Ketelaere and winger Dodi Luk茅bakio 鈥� who tallied a brace 鈥� all scored. American striker Patrick Agmeyang added a goal in the 87th minute with the game long finished.听

The Red Devils lead the all-time series 6-1-0. The Stars and Stripes鈥� only win was during the inaugural World Cup in 1930.

Latest line (via DraftKings): Belgium -0.5, Total 2.5

Key injuries: Belgium remains healthy entering the round of 16. Only Debast, who hasn鈥檛 played a minute of the World Cup, is questionable as he continues to rehab a leg injury he suffered in May.

Pochettino has a few injuries to consider. Center back Mark McKenzie returned to full practice after a foot injury held him out of the round of 32 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday, but Sounders midfielder continues to train individually while recovering from a quad strain.

Recent form: Coach Rudi Garcia鈥檚 squad continues to survive scares. Belgium against Egypt in Seattle on June 15 and settled for a 0-0 tie with Iran after going down to 10 players. A 5-1 win against New Zealand helped Belgium win Group G, but it by the slimmest of margins against Senegal in the round of 32.听

The Red Devils trailed 2-0 before an 86th-minute strike from forward and an 89th-minute header by captain Youri Tielemans forced extra time. Tielemans scored again in the 125th minute, converting a penalty. It's the latest goal in World Cup history.

The United States, in comparison, is flying. Pochettino鈥檚 squad registered a 4-1 win against Paraguay, which knocked out Germany in the round of 32, and a against Australia, which took Egypt to a penalty shootout on Friday. After a small hiccup against Turkey, the United States rebounded with a 2-0 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina.听

The big story

A spot in the World Cup quarterfinals, which the United States hasn't reached since 2002, is the main objective for both teams. But they also have some history.听

The United States and Belgium faced off in the round of 16 during the . The Stars and Stripes nearly won in regulation, but Chris Wondolowski lifted his shot from inside 6 yards over the crossbar during stoppage time. And the Red Devils finally overwhelmed American goalkeeper Tim Howard, who made a World Cup record 16 saves, in extra time.

's 93rd-minute goal and Lukaku's 105th-minute strike proved too much for the United States to overcome, despite a 107th-minute goal from Julian Green.

And the United States got a massive reprieve on Sunday when 25-year-old striker Folarin Balogun, whose three World Cup goals lead the team, had his one-game ban suspended by FIFA, making him .听

Balogun was red carded by Brazilian referee Raphael Claus for a challenge against defender聽 Tarik Muharemovi膰 during the 64th minute against Bosnia-Herzegovina. FIFA suspended the ban citing Article 27 of the disciplinary rules committee.

Key matchup聽

Belgium wingers vs. United States fullbacks

Against Senegal, Belgium鈥檚 best chances were generated from wide areas. Right back Thomas Meunier's cutback set up Lukaku鈥檚 goal and winger Leandro Trossard's lofted cross connected with Tielemans.

So American left back Jedi Robinson and right back Alex Freeman will face a significant defensive challenge on Monday. Robinson has made 23 defensive contributions and 18 ball recoveries, while Freeman has 24 defensive contributions including eight tackles.听

Key player

United States midfielder Tyler Adams聽

Through four games, the United States midfield has quietly been one of the best at the World Cup. McKennie leads the team with eight chances created. Midfielder Malik Tillman is second with six and plays a key role in Pochettino鈥檚 pressing system.听

McKennie and Tillman are encouraged to roam forward because of Tyler Adams. Playing as the lone holding midfielder, the 27-year-old Adams has been a steady presence throughout the tournament, shielding the defense. He鈥檚 made 21 defensive actions and his seven interceptions lead the team.听

Three other things to watch:聽

First major test

Pochettino鈥檚 team is in great form entering the round of 16. They still haven鈥檛 played a team like Belgium.

Before the World Cup, the United States played friendly exhibitions against three top-10 teams according to the FIFA world rankings: Portugal, Belgium and Germany. The Stars and Stripes lost all three games while being outscored 9-3. Beating the Red Devils will go a long way toward proving their group-stage performance wasn鈥檛 a mirage.听

Preparing for Lukaku

Garcia has carefully managed Lukaku鈥檚 minutes. The 33-year-old striker endured an injury-filled campaign at Napoli in 2025-26, so Garcia has preferred starting De Ketelaere before bringing on Lukaku, Belgium鈥檚 all-time leading scorer, in the second half.听

It鈥檚 been effective. Lukaku scored and assisted in five minutes against New Zealand, and found the back of the net against Senegal. He also directly induced an own goal against Egypt. Lukaku has enjoyed significant success running into the space between the center backs in a four-player defense.

Pochettino deploys a fluid formation that can become a five-player defense when Belgium has possession. Right winger Sergi帽o Dest can drop to right wingback, his regular position, allowing three players 鈥� captain Tim Ream, Chris Richards and Freeman 鈥� to stay central and defend Lukaku.听

An ace in Belgium's goal

was 22 years old when he started for Belgium against the United States in Brazil. Though Howard etched his name in the record books in 2014, Courtois has proved himself capable of similar performances 鈥� most notably his record-setting nine-save performance for Real Madrid in the 2022 UEFA Champions League final against Liverpool that earned him man-of-the-match honors.听

The 34-year-old goalkeeper hasn鈥檛 been needed much during the World Cup, but can always impact a game. Particularly if it goes to a penalty shootout.

Prediction

United States 2, Belgium 2聽

Pochettino's team is playing at a higher level than Garcia's entering the round of 16. After its miraculous comeback against Senegal, however, Belgium can鈥檛 be counted out until the final whistle.听

This game has penalty shootout written all over it. And while Belgium has Courtois, the United States will have the Seattle crowd in its corner.听

The Stars and Stripes advance to their first quarterfinal in 24 years.听