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USA v Belgium team news: Balogun starts, Doku benched

7 July 2026 64 comments
TopMarx TopMarx
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An evenly matched last 16 contest between the USA and Belgium has been overshadowed by off-pitch events.

The automatic one-match suspension handed to the USA’s Folarin Balogun ($6.0m) has been suspended for a year, freeing him up to play against Belgium. A decision described by UEFA as unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.

The USA have been playing some good football, with the opening 45 minutes against Paraguay among the best seen at this World Cup, but any neutrals who had warmed to Mauricio Pochettino’s side may now be feeling a little cooler towards the co-hosts.

The winner will face Spain in the quarter-finals.

Kick-off in Seattle is at 01:00 BST.

TEAM NEWS

Balogun does indeed take his place in the starting XI for the USA alongside Christian Pulisic ($7.0m) in attack.

Popular Fantasy defenders Sergino Dest ($4.3m) and Alexander Freeman ($4.0m) also feature from the off, as expected.

They will no doubt be pleased to learn that Jeremy Doku ($7.5m) is among the substitutes, he’s the only player found in more than five per cent of Fantasy squads not to start.

He’s joined on the bench by talisman Kevin De Bruyne ($7.5m), who was described by manager Rudi Garcia as a fitness concern.

But Leandro Trossard ($6.6m), another player mentioned by Garcia, is fit enough to start, however.

Nathan Ngoy ($3.7m), Nicolas Raskin ($5.3m), Amadou Onana (£5.9m) and Dodi Lukebakio ($5.9m) all come into the side that beat Senegal 3-2.

LINE-UPS

USA XI: Matt Freese, Alex Freeman, Chris Richards, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman, Sergiño Dest, Folarin Balogun, Christian Pulisic

Subs: M. Turner, C. Brady, A. Trusty, G. Reyna, R. Pepi, B. Aaronson, M. Robinson, S. Berhalter, M. Arfsten, H. Wright, T. Weah, M. McKenzie, J. Scally, A. Zendejas

Belgium XI: Thibaut Courtois, Timothy Castagne, Brandon Mechele, Nathan Ngoy, Maxim De Cuyper, Nicolas Raskin, Amadou Onana, Dodi Lukébakio, Youri Tielemans, Leandro Trossard, Charles De Ketelaere

Subs: S. Lammens, M. Penders, Z. Debast, A. Theate, A. Witsel, K. De Bruyne, R. Lukaku, J. Doku, T. Meunier, K. De Winter, J. Seys, D. Moreira, H. Vanaken, A. Saelemaekers, M. Fernandez

TopMarx Fan of Fantasy Football and Monty Python. "Archimedes out to Socrates, Socrates back to Archimedes, Archimedes out to Heraclitus, he beats Hegel. Heraclitus a little flick, here he comes on the far post, Socrates is there, Socrates heads it in! Socrates has scored! The Greeks are going mad, the Greeks are going mad! Socrates scores, got a beautiful cross from Archimedes. The Germans are disputing it. Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination, and Marx is claiming it was offside. Follow them on Twitter

64 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. Qaiss
    • 10 Years
    1 hour, 54 mins ago

    If Belgium had anything about them, they’d walk off the pitch after kick off and go home

    Refund the Belgian fans who paid for tickets and send a message to FIFA

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 hour, 51 mins ago

      If the US had anything about them, they wouldn’t play Balogun.

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      1. cravencottage
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        1 hour, 48 mins ago

        why not- its not his fault.

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        1. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          1 hour, 46 mins ago

          Because he should be banned.

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          1. cravencottage
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            1 hour, 45 mins ago

            Why wasnt Ronaldo?

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            1. The Bandit
              • 15 Years
              1 hour, 41 mins ago

              I can’t be arsed discussing it further with a totally biased American. Enjoy the game.

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      2. Freshy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        1 hour, 46 mins ago

        Balogun knew the guy had super flexo ankles

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    2. cravencottage
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      1 hour, 47 mins ago

      Ronaldo had his red card rescinded- but the anti USA crowd is out in full force

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      1. The Bandit
        • 15 Years
        1 hour, 43 mins ago

        Ronaldo at least served one game, it wasn’t in the middle of a major tournament and it wasn’t instigated by a raving lunatic corrupt host country President. There was plenty of outcry about that too.

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      2. Qaiss
        • 10 Years
        1 hour, 40 mins ago

        Why would you think I’m anti USA? I wanted them to win all their matches up until now

        Are you saying if you were Belgium that you wouldn’t have a problem with it? This is dictator levels of interference

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        1. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          1 hour, 37 mins ago

          You’re wasting your time. There is no reasoning with Trump apologists

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          1. McGurn
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 17 Years
            55 mins ago

            These guys are the very the total bottom end of society

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          2. cravencottage
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 15 Years
            17 mins ago

            Jealousy is unbecoming

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            1. McGurn
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 17 Years
              9 mins ago

              Jealous of what exactly? The school shootings, the education system!!, the polution in your food, the inequality of life, the fact that the poor die because of lack of healthcare, the fact that your President has committed crimes that would be a life sentence in all other countries. The world hates the USA. The educated Americans apologise and i respect them, but the fact the fact that you double down is beyond embarrassing. Please educate yourself.

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              1. bso
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 11 Years
                5 mins ago

                So true

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            2. McGurn
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 17 Years
              8 mins ago

              On the plus side the mod is on your side so i will be banned soon. Have a nice day!!

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      3. TopMarx
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 13 Years
        1 hour, 27 mins ago

        Rooney had a ban reduced ahead of Euro 2012 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16064924 but there was an appeals process. And a few players, not just Ronaldo, have had bans reduced on appeal ahead of a World Cup https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvgj9e1782xo

        But this is during the tournament, following a phone call from the president of the USA, it doesn't sit well. Does that count as government interference? And Trump didn't even seem to understand the rules; so should all red cards just apply to the match in which they occurred, no automatic suspensions? Are we changing the rules mid-tournament?

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    3. Haa-lala-land
      • 5 Years
      1 hour, 34 mins ago

      Imagine if Balogun gets another RC v Belgium, and Infantino starts sweating as he awaits Trumps phone call

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  2. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    1 hour, 49 mins ago

    Meunier used to be a top D
    What happened to him?

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  3. cravencottage
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 15 Years
    1 hour, 45 mins ago

    Lets go USA!

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    1. McGurn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      53 mins ago

      For the sake of football and against corruption, the world needs Belgium to win!!

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  4. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 hour, 30 mins ago

    Shocker from Tielemans

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  5. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 hour, 29 mins ago

    Too easy

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  6. McGurn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    1 hour, 28 mins ago

    Trump is on the phone to VAR as we speak!

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  7. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 hour, 24 mins ago

    1-0 Belgium

    De Ketelaere goal, Raskin assist

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  8. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 hour, 8 mins ago

    Who are Mr and Mrs Vedder? She looks bored out of her mind 😆

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 hour, 6 mins ago

      Ah, Pearl Jam guy

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    2. GreennRed
      • 14 Years
      51 mins ago

      He's a t#*t. Saw him playing at a gig in Albuquerque the day Obama was re-elected in

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      1. GreennRed
        • 14 Years
        6 mins ago

        ...2012. If he was a bar of chocolare he'd eat himself.

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  9. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 hour, 6 mins ago

    1-1

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 hour, 5 mins ago

      Not for long

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    2. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      1 hour, 4 mins ago

      Tillman from free kick.

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  10. The Florentine assassin
    • 3 Years
    1 hour, 5 mins ago

    TILLMAN my captain. Oh my captain. Better than what happened to N. Mendes earlier 🙂

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  11. EmreCan Hustle
    • 13 Years
    1 hour, 4 mins ago

    Goals galore!

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  12. The Bandit
    • 15 Years
    1 hour, 4 mins ago

    Weak by Ream

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  13. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    1 hour, 4 mins ago

    Belgium 2-1

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    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      3 mins ago

      De Ketelaere goal, Trossard assist

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  14. McGurn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    1 hour, 4 mins ago

    The silence that followed that 2nd Belgium goal is pure poetry!!

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  15. McGurn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    1 hour, 2 mins ago

    Football 2-1 Corruption

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      1 hour ago

      Unfortunately the head of football is also corrupt

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      1. McGurn
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 17 Years
        55 mins ago

        Absolutely, but todays corruption is the worst we have ever seen (makes Blatter look like a good guy!!). It is so serious that there must be a reaction, to the extent that FIFA may cease to be. The entire football world wants Belgium to win, but whatever the result, the fact that a host nation can dictate a FIFA decision will ultimately be their downfall. Todays decision may seem like an annoyance today, but i hope it is the beginning of the end of FIFA as it stands.

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        1. The Bandit
          • 15 Years
          35 mins ago

          BBC think he’s Teflon

          https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cvgmmmgemd8o

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          1. McGurn
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 17 Years
            just now

            It is sickening but at least football is winning so far. Fingers crossed. Cheers pal x

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        2. bso
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          28 mins ago

          Hear, hear mate...I second that!

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          1. McGurn
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 17 Years
            9 mins ago

            Cheers mate, i appreciate that.

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  16. DeSelby
    • 3 Years
    58 mins ago

    Belgium absolutely dominating. Hopefully they bring in De Bruyne and Doku and win by 5 or more.

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  17. EmreCan Hustle
    • 13 Years
    55 mins ago

    Should have been 3-1

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  18. TopMarx
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    28 mins ago

    Dest off at HT

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  19. CoracAld2831
    • 5 Years
    16 mins ago

    Belgium 3-1

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    1. CoracAld2831
      • 5 Years
      4 mins ago

      Vanaken goal, Ketelaere assist

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  20. McGurn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    15 mins ago

    Football 3-1 Corruption! Woop Woop

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  21. McGurn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    11 mins ago

    Most USA "soccer" fans and players are decent so maybe they have a conscious? If i was was a player it would affect me. The irony that the corruption may be the reason is a thing of beauty x

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  22. TopMarx
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • Has Moderation Rights
    • 13 Years
    10 mins ago

    Seattle Soundless

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    1. The Bandit
      • 15 Years
      9 mins ago

      Sleeping in Seattle

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      1. McGurn
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 17 Years
        5 mins ago

        Lovely stuff! Is it my TV (or respect for my sleeping family) or has the crowd been embarrassingly quiet?

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        1. TopMarx
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 13 Years
          1 min ago

          The latter. The crowd make more noise during the hydration break than the match itself. Belgium have done well and it's probably the worst performance of the tournament from the US

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    2. McGurn
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 17 Years
      5 mins ago

      Nice

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  23. McGurn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    3 mins ago

    I think Cravencoottage has gone. In fellowship for his vile leader think he has gone on the internet (i dont even want to think what he is doing!) Eugh

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  24. EmreCan Hustle
    • 13 Years
    1 min ago

    120% Tariff on Belgium 😆

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  25. McGurn
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 17 Years
    just now

    Best comment of the night! Well played Sir x

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