USMNT Faces Belgium for a Spot in World Cup Quarterfinals

The United States men’s national team (USMNT) is on the brink of securing a place in the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2002. Standing in their way is Belgium, the opponent in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.

Belgium has a track record of challenging the USMNT. In the 2014 World Cup, Belgium defeated the U.S. with a 2-1 victory in the Round of 16. More recently, Belgium dominated the U.S. in an international friendly this March, winning 5-2. Despite this history, USMNT defender Alex Freeman remains confident.

“We know the quality they have,” Freeman, 21, shared with Roger Bennett on “Men in Blazers.” “They’re a very quality team. They’ve been known for years. For us, it’s how we can stay to ourselves and know that we still want to play the way we want to play. Still be able to press a lot, control the ball a little bit, be able to be direct.”

Freeman noted that he was “so young” during the 2014 loss to Belgium, though some teammates might recall that defeat. Nevertheless, Freeman emphasized the team’s focus on achieving a different outcome this time.

“I think we just don’t feel like we want to bring it up, knowing that this is the game that we want a whole different impact on, a whole different result. At the end of the day, I think we want revenge, not only for 2014, but for a couple of months ago when we lost to them. So, for us, it’s how can we get that revenge, and how can we go and get a win?”

Belgium and the USMNT will meet for their Round of 16 match in Seattle on Monday, July 6. To see Freeman’s full “Men in Blazers” appearance, watch below.