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Belgium Eyes US as World Cup Roars On
5 Jul
Summary
- Belgium players express confidence despite Seattle's pro-US atmosphere.
- A previous 5-2 friendly loss to Belgium haunts US World Cup prospects.
- US striker Folarin Balogun will miss the match due to suspension.
Belgium players are preparing to face a highly supportive US crowd in Seattle for their upcoming World Cup match on Monday. Despite the anticipated atmosphere, left-back Maxim De Cuyper expressed confidence, stating the team must 'show balls on the pitch' and play their own game. Full-back Timothy Castagne added that the crowd could turn against the Americans if the game goes poorly, and that the team would remain focused within their 'bubble'.
The two teams met previously in March 2026, where Belgium secured a decisive 5-2 victory. However, De Cuyper cautioned against drawing too many conclusions from that friendly, noting goalkeeper Senne Lammens's strong performance was crucial. Dodi Lukébakio, who scored twice in that match, acknowledged the US has improved significantly since then.
The United States will be without suspended striker Folarin Balogun, a key player in their World Cup campaign. Veteran midfielder Axel Witsel highlighted the need for Belgium to adapt to the US playing with three at the back, believing they possess the offensive capabilities to exploit this strategy, despite the different context from their previous encounter.
