Last Updated on 1 week ago by TodayWhy Editorial
Update, July 6: Is the US still in the world cup? The United States men’s national team is officially out of the 2026 World Cup. A 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 at Lumen Field in Seattle ended the Americans’ run — a different result than the Türkiye scare that first sent people searching this question two weeks ago. Here’s what happened, and why the Türkiye loss was never the real threat.
Why the US is out: Belgium’s 4-1 win in the Round of 16
Belgium took the lead in the 9th minute when Charles De Ketelaere tapped in from inside the box, and the Americans briefly leveled it at 1-1 through a Malik Tillman free kick in the 31st minute. The tie lasted barely two minutes: De Ketelaere struck again to restore Belgium’s lead, and a mistake by US goalkeeper Matt Freese let Belgium extend it to 3-1 in the 57th minute. Substitute Romelu Lukaku sealed it with a fourth goal deep into stoppage time, as NPR’s coverage of the match confirms. The result knocks the US out of the knockout stage and sends Belgium into the quarterfinals against Spain.
How the US got here: Group D win, then a Round of 32 statement
The Americans arrived at the Belgium match on the back of their best World Cup form in a generation. They won Group D outright with victories over Paraguay (4-1) and Australia (2-0), then beat Bosnia and Herzegovina 2-0 in the Round of 32 on July 1 at Levi’s Stadium — a win they held onto for the final half hour despite playing a man down after a red card to Folarin Balogun, later described by ESPN’s officiating review as a VAR misapplication. That run made the Round of 16 loss to Belgium the Americans’ first defeat of the knockout stage, and their earliest World Cup exit since they last failed to get past this round in 2022.
Wait — didn’t the US already survive a loss to Türkiye?
Yes, and that’s a separate result. Back on June 25, Türkiye beat the US 3-2 on a stoppage-time winner in the group stage finale, and it briefly sent “is the US out of the World Cup” trending. That loss changed nothing: the US had already clinched top spot in Group D before kickoff, and Türkiye had already been eliminated after losing its first two matches. Coach Mauricio Pochettino even rotated nine starters in that game because there was nothing left to play for. The elimination that actually ended the US campaign came almost two weeks later, in a completely different match, against a completely different opponent.
What’s next: Belgium faces Spain, and the bracket moves on
Belgium advances to face Spain in the quarterfinals, continuing a Round of 16 that’s already been the most wide-open in tournament history, with more than three dozen teams eliminated. For the US, the tournament ends in the Round of 16 for the first time since 2002 with a home World Cup behind them — a run that included three group-stage wins and a knockout victory, but ultimately no return to the quarterfinals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the USA still in the World Cup?
No. The United States was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup on July 6 after losing 4-1 to Belgium in the Round of 16 at Lumen Field in Seattle.
Did the loss to Türkiye eliminate the US?
No. The 3-2 loss to Türkiye on June 25 had no effect on the standings — the US had already won Group D before that match was played. The US was eliminated later, by Belgium, in the Round of 16.
What was the score when the US was eliminated?
Belgium won 4-1. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice for Belgium, Malik Tillman scored the US’s only goal on a free kick, and Romelu Lukaku added a late goal off the bench.
Who does Belgium play next?
Belgium advances to the quarterfinals to face Spain.
How far did the US go in the 2026 World Cup?
The US won Group D, beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32, and was eliminated by Belgium in the Round of 16 — its earliest exit since 2022 and matching its historical ceiling in most tournaments since 2002.
So now, you can know the answer for the question: Is the US still in the World Cup?