Belgium end USMNT's World Cup dream with 4-1 rout as Edu, Guzan and Kljestan urge players to hold their heads high

Belgium ended the United States men’s national team’s 2026 World Cup campaign with a 4-1 victory at Seattle Stadium on Monday, sending the host nation home at the round of 16 and closing out a tournament that had briefly captivated mainstream American sport.

The Americans were behind as early as the ninth minute and never recovered. Malik Tillman, one of the tournament’s standout performers, scored from a free kick in the 31st minute, but it was not enough to alter the outcome as Belgium ran out convincing winners.

Despite the heavy defeat, former USMNT players who were covering the tournament offered a measured and largely positive verdict on what the squad had achieved. Former goalkeeper Brad Guzan pointed to the cultural footprint the team had made during the competition. “You can’t get away from talk shows talking about soccer, the U.S. men’s national team, talking about these individuals and how brilliant they’ve been,” Guzan said after the final whistle. “On the day, it’s disappointing, but overall, they should be extremely proud of what they’ve been able to do.”

Former midfielder Sacha Kljestan echoed that sentiment, highlighting the team’s ability to draw in casual fans. “I’m really proud of the inspiration that they gave the United States and a lot of young kids out there and a lot of fans — that casual sports fan that locked in on this team and was so excited to watch them play. That was special.”

The tournament had genuine high points. The United States won Group D and delivered a round-of-32 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1 that drew more than 27 million television viewers — a remarkable figure for a soccer match in the United States. It was only the second time in USMNT history that the team had won a knockout-stage match at a World Cup, though the side has still reached just one quarterfinal since 1930.

Former midfielder Maurice Edu urged the players not to let the manner of the exit define the tournament. “The bigger picture still exists,” Edu said. “What I would say to this group of players is hold your head up. Yeah, it’s difficult right now in this moment. It’s difficult, of course, because of the circumstances, but hold your head high and don’t for a second stop dreaming, stop daring yourself to be the best version of this national team that we’ve ever seen.”

The squad’s club pedigree underlines how far the programme has developed. Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic play in Serie A, Malik Tillman in the Bundesliga, Folarin Balogun in Ligue 1, Alex Freeman in La Liga, and both Chris Richards and Antonee Robinson in the Premier League. Edu suggested that performances across the tournament will have registered with clubs and coaches around the world, regardless of Monday’s result.