USA vs Belgium Predictions

• Belgium are unbeaten in 16 matches
• The Red Devils have scored 22 goals in eight matches, after netting 29 goals in qualifying
• Belgium won 5-2 when these two sides met in March

Balogun reprieve as US scale new heights

Despite his red card against Bosnia, FIFA have cleared Folarin Balogun to feature in the USA’s clash with Belgium on Monday night.

The Monaco forward is vital for the co-hosts. He scored his third goal of the tournament in that last 32 tie, and Balogun is the only player in their squad to generate more than 0.95 xG across the entire tournament.

Even with their top scorer available, the US face new challenges in this last 16 clash. Mauricio Pochettino’s side now carries the weight of the nation, and the ire of the rest of the world.

The US side are bidding to break new ground by matching their best-ever modern-day tournament display. They’re up against an experienced Belgian side, and there will be little need for Belgian boss Rudi Garcia to fire up his team, following reported White House interference which led to Balogun’s suspension being overturned.

Belgium hang on

The Red Devils are fortunate to still be in this competition, after falling 2-0 down to Senegal in the last round. The Belgians opened the tournament with draws against Egypt and Iran, and there was some expectation that their 5-1 win over New Zealand signified their arrival at the tournament at long last.

However, Belgium made a slow start against the Senegalese, who generated 1.83 Expected Goals within the first 45 minutes of their clash in Seattle. The Red Devils scored in the 86th and 89th minutes to force extra time, before a 125th-minute penalty took them through.

While they’ve not quite met expectations, Belgium still have an incredibly talented side, and their quality in the final third is something that the US haven’t had to face so far.

Toughest test so far for Pochettino’s side

The US have built up plenty of momentum at this tournament, but the sides they’ve beaten, Paraguay, Australia, and Bosnia, don’t match up to Belgium’s level.

We can largely disregard the USA’s 3-2 loss to an already-eliminated Turkey side, but that wasn’t even as big a test as this last 16 tie.

Belgium haven’t lost across their last 16 internationals, which includes a 5-2 win at an experimental USA side back in March. The Red Devils followed up scoring 29 times in qualifying by netting 22 times in eight games in 2026, and that attacking edge could make all the difference.

Take the Belgians to qualify, with Kevin De Bruyne standing out in the scoring markets. The Napoli midfielder has scored eight times across his last 13 internationals, and he leads all Belgian players with 18 attempts in four games at this tournament.