The United States has not reached the quarterfinals since 2002. This Monday, Mauricio Pochettino’s team will seek to break that drought against Belgium in Seattle, in a World Cup round of 16 duel. The Argentine coach will have his starting eleven available, including Folarin Balogun, whose red card suspension was overturned following a call from President Donald Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“They have a lot of players who can hurt you, and we have to be ready,” said Christian Pulisic, the team’s figure.
Belgium arrives after overcoming a 2-0 deficit against Senegal in the round of 32, winning 3-2 in extra time. The Red Devils beat the USA in 2014 (2-1) and in a friendly in March (5-2), but defender Maxim De Cuyper said: “That 2-5 gives a distorted image. It could have ended differently.”
Captain Tim Ream assured that both teams are very different since then. The game will be played at Lumen Field, with a full capacity estimated at more than 66,000 people. The American fans, known as the “number 12 player” according to Pochettino, were key in the group stage.
A leap for soccer in the US
Reaching the quarterfinals would mean enormous progress. Midfielder Tyler Adams stated: “We want to leave our mark on the game and a legacy. We know that the further we go, the more success we will have and the more the sport will grow.”
Belgium, which was number one in the FIFA ranking between 2015 and 2022, is now experiencing a renewal. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said: “This is a new era. There are some players from the golden era, but now we have another generation ready to write their history.”
Pochettino is already the first US coach with three wins in a World Cup. The match will define the rival of Spain or Portugal in the quarterfinals.
