USA vs Belgium: World Cup Round of 16 preview, predictions and bet builder tips

• Fixture: USA vs Belgium

• Competition: World Cup - Round of 16

• Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2026

• Kick-off: 1am BST

• Venue: Seattle Stadium

Our prediction: USA 2-1 Belgium

USA

Our predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Freese / Freeman, Richards, Ream, Robinson / Adams, McKennie / Dest, Tillman, Pulisic / Pepi

Belgium

Our predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Courtois / Castagne, Mechele, Theate, De Cuyper / Tielemans, Vanaken / Trossard, De Bruyne, Doku / Lukaku

The odds reflect the fact that this is one of the most evenly-matched ties of the round of 16, and one that is being eagerly anticipated by an increasingly excited USA fanbase. Mauricio Pochettino's side beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 to win their first World Cup knockout match since 2002, which is when they last made the quarter-finals. The only blot on that was an unfortunate red card for key man Folarin Balogun, who has shone so far with three goals in three games. He's likely to be replaced with Ricardo Pepi, but the USA will be encouraged by the grit shown after being reduced to ten men.

Belgium were all but out of the World Cup trailing 2-0 to Senegal with five minutes left of their last 32 clash, before a miraculous comeback took the game to extra-time, but there would be more drama. A VAR intervention gave The Red Devils a 125th-minute penalty, which captain Youri Tielemans - who also grabbed the equaliser - converted to score the latest ever goal at a World Cup. They will have to raise their level against an impressive USA side who will be backed by a fervent atmosphere in Seattle.

These two met at the same stage in the 2014 World Cup and it was a thriller, with USA goalkeeper Tim Howard putting in an incredible performance, but Belgium ultimately prevailing 2-1 after extra-time. We think there's a good chance that the match goes beyond 90 minutes this time around, particularly after Belgium needed extra time to beat Senegal.

We're predicting the match to go to extra time but for the USA to ultimately qualify for the quarter-finals, as their dream run on home soil continues. On paper, Belgium might have more star power, but on the eye test there is no doubting that the USA have been the better side in this tournament.

Pochettino's team have played with energy and purpose throughout the World Cup, suffocating teams without the ball and confusing defences with their slick attacking rotations. Balogun will be a big miss, but the fluidity of Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Malik Tillman will cause problems for a leaky Belgium backline.

Belgium coach Rudi Garcia may be tempted to unleash Romelu Lukaku from the start after scoring off the bench in each of the last two, while the trio of Leandro Trossard, Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku are all elite attackers. However, Belgium simply haven't got going at this World Cup, and we think they'll run into a USMNT buoyed by momentum and a rocking Seattle crowd. We're predicting an eventual 2-1 win for the USA against Belgium after extra-time.

To go with our 2-1 prediction, we're picking over 2.5 goals as part of our Belgium vs USA bet builder. Belgium's weakness is in defence, but the depth of their attacking talent means it's likely that they find the back of the net. There have been 11 goals in Belgium's last two games, while eight of the USA's last eleven games have had over 2.5 goals, with an average of 3.9 per game.

With top scorer Balogun suspended, the burden rests even heavier on Christian Pulisic's shoulders in the last 16. 'Captain America' returned from a nagging calf issue in the previous round to help his country through, and was very influential in the USA's opening 4-1 win against Paraguay before he picked up that injury. Pulisic is yet to score in this World Cup, but we think he'll rise to the occasion here by finding the net against Belgium.

You can bet on each of these markets individually, or combine them to create a USA vs Belgium Bet Builder. With Bet Builder+, you can combine your bet with other World Cup matches, and also with different sports.

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.