It was the “red card heard around the world” and the subsequent revision that suddenly put a glaring spotlight on star US MNT striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun has put together a great World Cup alongside his United States teammates, but the stakes are raised for this Round of 16 clash in Seattle. Politics and football once again becoming comingled. The basic headline is simple, Folarin Balogun’s red card is suspended, and he will start in his usual striker role for the US MNT against Belgium, but the debate around FIFA’s decision continues. We have team news and confirmed lineups for both Belgium and the United States.
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United States vs Belgium
Date: Monday, July 6th, 2026
Venue: Lumen Field in Seattle
Kick Off: 20:00 in Seattle
Referee: Adham Makhadmeh
Current Odds:
United States Team News
The US MNT gets to start its first choice XI for this one, there’s no changes from what was expected, Sergino Dest/Weston McKennie/Christian Pulisic and Balogun making up the frontline attackers. Ultimately, with all of the attention on Balogun these past 24 hours, the attention has been off of players like Pulisic and Tyler Adams that could prove key for a USMNT goal.
Mauricio Pochettino said he “celebrated” the decision by FIFA to lift Balogun’s suspension. Ultimately this is a USA team that will enter this game with crowd support and fully believes it’s a top 10 international side, this game will see how they measure up to their own expectations.
Belgium Team News
The changes for Belgium are bold from Rudi Garcia, but perhaps not shocking as he tries to position the Red Devils in their ideal form to win this knockout phase contest. Dodi Lukebakio gets the start over a sick Jeremy Doku, Romelo Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne, two veterans from that 2014 clash, will be on the bench, in their place is Nicolas Raskin in the midfield and Charles De Ketelaere in the striker role. Nathan Ngoy returns in place of Arthur Theate.
The key for Belgium will be not letting the drama around this game distract them from their mission, these are still top quality footballers, but they have had a rocky tournaemnt to this point.
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United States Confirmed Lineup (4-2-3-1)
GK: Matt Freese
Defenders: Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson
Midfield: Tyler Adams, Sergino Dest, Weston McKennie, Malik Tillman
Forwards: Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun
Belgium Confirmed Lineup (4-2-3-1)
GK: Thibaut Courtois
Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Brandon Mechele, Nathan Ngoy, Maxim De Cuyper
Midfield: Youri Tielemans, Nicolas Raskin, Andre Onana
Forwards: Leandro Trossard, Dodi Lukebakio, Charles De Ketelaere
Main Photo Credit: Smartframe Images
