USMNT Takes on Belgium; Portugal Faces Spain in World Cup Round of 16
The USMNT hasn’t made it past the World Cup quarterfinals since 2002. As the 2026 tournament rolls on, they face a tough test against Belgium on Monday.
Portugal and Spain Clash Again
Monday, July 6 | 3 p.m. ET | Dallas | TV: Fox
The rivalry between Portugal and Spain deepens once more. Just last summer, Portugal edged out Spain in the UEFA Nations League Finals via penalty kicks. Now, with a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals on the line, they meet for the 42nd time overall, though only the third in this tournament’s history.
Spain sailed through their Round of 32 match with a 3-0 win over Austria. Meanwhile, Portugal overcame Croatia in a thrilling 2-1 comeback. The winner will face the victor of the US-Belgium matchup in Los Angeles this Friday.
USMNT Battles Belgium for Quarterfinal Spot
Monday, July 6 | 8 p.m. ET | Seattle | TV: Fox
This is not the same USMNT that suffered a 5-2 loss to Belgium in a friendly last March. Coach Mauricio Pochettino’s squad has powered through to the Round of 16, aiming to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in over two decades.
Adding to their strength, FIFA overturned striker Folarin Balogun's one-match suspension following his controversial red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina. This means the team’s leading scorer is ready to play against Belgium.
Belgium barely scraped by Senegal in the Round of 32 with a late comeback. Their recent World Cup history is a mixed bag: from an early group exit to a third-place finish, then a quarterfinal last time.
With odds essentially even at -110 for both sides, Monday’s clash promises drama and intensity as the US looks to break its long quarterfinal drought.
