Starting XI & Lineup Notes: USMNT vs. Belgium in FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16
Kickoff for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match at Seattle Stadium is 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET on FOX, Telemundo and Peacock
LINEUP NOTES
USMNT vs. Belgium
2026 FIFA World Cup – Round of 16
July 6, 2026
Seattle Stadium; Seattle, Wash.
Kickoff: 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET on FOX, Telemundo and Peacock
Radio: Fútbol de Primera
Fans can follow the USMNT on X (@USMNT), Instagram (@USMNT), Facebook, U.S. Soccer Match Hub and the official U.S. Soccer App.
Tonight’s USMNT Starting XI vs. Belgium: 24-Matt Freese, 2-Sergiño Dest, 3-Chris Richards 4-Tyler Adams, 5-Antonee Robinson, 8-Weston McKennie, 10-Christian Pulisic, 13-Tim Ream (Capt.), 16-Alex Freeman, 17-Malik Tillman, 20-Folarin Balogun
Substitutes: 1-Matt Turner, 25-Chris Brady, 6-Auston Trusty, 7-Gio Reyna, 9-Ricardo Pepi, 11-Brenden Aaronson, 12-Miles Robinson, 14-Sebastian Berhalter, 18-Max Arfsten, 19-Haji Wright, 21-Tim Weah, 22-Mark McKenzie, 23-Joe Scally, 26-Alex Zendejas
Not Dressed: Cristian Roldan
ROSTER NOTES
- USMNT Starting XI Caps (including this match): Christian Pulisic (90), Tim Ream (86), Weston McKennie (71), Tyler Adams (58), Antonee Robinson (58), Sergiño Dest (44), Chris Richards (40), Malik Tillman (35), Folarin Balogun (31), Alex Freeman (22) and Matt Freese (19).
- USMNT Starting XI World Cup Caps (including this match): Sergiño Dest (9), Weston McKennie (9), Tyler Adams (8), Christian Pulisic (8), Tim Ream (8), Antonee Robinson (8), Alex Freeman (5), Malik Tillman (5), Folarin Balogun (4), Matt Freese (4), Chris Richards (4).
- The Starting XI averages 49 caps overall and 28 caps in official competition.
- The starting lineup has an average age of 27 years, 151 days.
- Mauricio Pochettino runs out the same Starting XI that began last Wednesday’s 2-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the tournament-opening 4-1 win against Paraguay on June 12. It marks the first time since the inaugural 1930 edition that the USA will deploy the same lineup in three matches during one World Cup.
- Born in nearby Fort Lewis, Washington, Weston McKennie becomes just the seventh USMNT player to start five matches in a single FIFA World Cup, joining Landon Donovan, Brad Friedel, Brian McBride, John O’Brien, Eddie Pope and Tony Sanneh, all of whom started the five U.S. matches during the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan.
- With his ninth World Cup start, McKennie also ties Eddie Pope for fifth on the USMNT’s all-time World Cup start list. They sit behind only Landon Donovan (12), Clint Dempsey, Brian McBride and Claudio Reyna (10 each).
- With their ninth overall World Cup appearances, McKennie and Sergiño Dest tie Eddie Pope and Tab Ramos for ninth all-time among USMNT players.
- The group of Tyler Adams, Sergiño Dest, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson will all play their third Knockout Round match in a FIFA World Cup, tying the USMNT record jointly held by Landon Donovan, Cobi Jones and Earnie Stewart.
- Having made his debut in March 2016, 27-year-old Christian Pulisic earns his 90th cap today, tying John Harkes for 20th on the USMNT’s all-time appearance list.
- Tim Ream captains the USA for the 37th time tonight. It’s also his fourth time wearing the armband in a FIFA World Cup match, making him just the sixth USMNT player to achieve that feat. He joins Claudio Reyna (seven games), Tyler Adams, Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey and Tony Meola (four each).
- With his game-winner against Bosnia, striker Folarin Balogun became just the third USMNT player to record three goals in a single World Cup tournament, joining Bert Patenaude (four goals in 1930) and Landon Donovan (three goals in 2010).
- Backstopping the USA in its win against Bosnia last Wednesday, Matt Freese earned his third FIFA World Cup victory, setting a new mark among USMNT goalkeepers at the tournament. Freese also earned his second shutout, tying Jimmy Douglas (1930) and Matt Turner (2022) for most among USMNT goalkeepers in FIFA World Cup play.
- Age 21, Alex Freeman joins Landon Donovan as just the second USMNT player under the age of 22 to start two World Cup Knockout Round matches. Donovan started both Knockout Round matches in 2002 against Mexico and Germany.
- Midfielder Malik Tillman recorded just the second USMNT goal from a free kick in World Cup history in Wednesday’s win against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Tillman’s 82nd minute set piece followed Eric Wynalda’s equalizer against Switzerland in the opening match of the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
- Seven starters played in the USA’s last meeting with Belgium on March 28 in Atlanta. Weston McKennie scored in the match and was joined by Folarin Balogun, Christian Pulisic, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson and Malik Tillman in starting the match, while Alex Freeman entered the game in the 64th minute.