USMNT fans flood Seattle as USA face Belgium in World Cup round of 16

American supporters transformed the streets of Seattle into a sea of red, white and blue on Monday as the USMNT prepared to face Belgium in a World Cup round of 16 tie at Seattle Stadium — a match carrying the weight of a nation’s quarter-final hopes for the first time in 23 years.

Crowds outside the stadium were already in full voice hours before kickoff, belting out “Take Me Home, Country Roads” in scenes that underlined just how much this tournament has captured the public imagination. The atmosphere was a marked step up even from the already-electric mood that has surrounded the USA’s earlier games at the 2026 World Cup.

The stakes are considerable. A win would send the USMNT into the quarterfinals for the first time since 2002, and the squad widely regarded as the strongest the United States has ever assembled is the vehicle many believe can finally end that drought. Among those available is star striker Folarin Balogun, whose one-match suspension — triggered by a red card in the previous round — was controversially overturned on Sunday, clearing him to feature against Belgium.

USWNT legend and analyst Carli Lloyd, speaking before the match, noted that this men’s team has managed to rally the entire country behind it in a way that feels genuinely different. The sentiment was visible on the streets, where chants, flags and supporter groups had gathered well before the opening whistle.

The fan scenes ahead of the Belgium tie stood out as some of the most vivid of the tournament so far, capturing a country that has waited a long time for a World Cup run to truly call its own.