The United States national soccer team is preparing for a critical Round of 16 showdown against Belgium in the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage.
The match is expected to be one of the most closely watched fixtures of the round, with both teams entering at full strength and aiming to secure a place in the quarterfinals. The United States will be looking to capitalize on home support and recent strong performances, while Belgium brings experience and a deep roster into the contest.
Ahead of the match, former U.S. President Donald Trump made controversial remarks regarding team selection and fairness in the competition. He said it was important for Team USA to have its best players on the field, suggesting that failing to reverse a suspension could have made the game appear unfair or “rigged” against the United States.
He also added: “The game tonight is going to be amazing, and we're going to have a full team, and Belgium is going to have a full team. And you know what? If they beat us, then they can be really proud. The other way, if they beat us, we'll say it was -- I'd say it was rigged, just like the election was rigged in 2020, but I won't get into that.”
