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USA v Belgium team news: Balogun starts, Doku benched

7 July 2026 102 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

102 Comments Login to Post a Comment
  1. THE Wild Rover
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 25 days ago

    Martinez quits

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    1. THE Wild Rover
      • 16 Years
      1 month, 25 days ago

      Paying the price for pandering to Ronaldo.

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      1. JBG
        • 8 Years
        1 month, 24 days ago

        And being a bad manager... mostly that.

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        1. JBG
          • 8 Years
          1 month, 24 days ago

          Made players like BrunoF, Vitinha and J.Gomes look like they've never played football. These are players that have been world class throughout the season.

          BrunoF the best chance creator in Europe, maybe the world atm played more like a second striker, winger or CB, than where he's best. It's mind boggling how the Portuguese FA saw what this idiot did to Belgiums golden generation and thought "that's our guy".

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  2. Ausman
    • 3 Years
    1 month, 25 days ago

    So happy for Belgium. Infantino has a lot of explaining to do.

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    1. Travel Notes
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 25 days ago

      Justice received in the final score. Well done Belgium, England and Morocco. All three host can leave home for their holidays.

      Scam tournament from before the start, when Infantino sucked up to the US President with a ridiculous 'FIFA Peace Prize'.

      Let the real football begin.

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  3. Freshy
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 16 Years
    1 month, 25 days ago

    Prime Minister of France is petitioning to have Olise YC rescinded.

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    1. The Knights Template
      • 12 Years
      1 month, 24 days ago

      Prime Minister of Australia told a podcast he wanted to bonk Kylie Minogue! Our PM wins!

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  4. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 24 days ago

    On behalf of pretty much everyone, thank you Belgium

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  5. JBG
    • 8 Years
    1 month, 24 days ago

    Read a funny comment about the result of this match.

    "I'm a bit worried now that tariffs will be imposed on Germany because they can't tell the flags apart" XD

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    1. Travel Notes
      • 4 Years
      1 month, 24 days ago

      That about sums them up.

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