Team USA look to extend their World Cup journey on home soil as they take on Belgium in a last-16 clash in Seattle, with the buildup to the match overshadowed by a row raging over US President Donald Trump’s extraordinary intervention to earn a red-card reprieve for striker Folarin Balogun. Follow our liveblog for minute-by-minute match commentary.
Balogun, the US team’s outstanding player at the World Cup so far, had been set to miss the game against Belgium after receiving a red card in the victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the previous round.
But on Sunday FIFA said it was suspending the card, sparking a furore as Trump confirmed he had contacted its boss Gianni Infantino directly about the red card.
De Ketelaere with the opener! A simple tap-in after Trossard brings danger to the USA box.
A superb start for Belgium, who are looking so much brighter than against Senegal.
Tielemans misses a sitter!
Excellent work on the right from Lukebakio who puts a great ball in the middle but Tielemans fluffs a glorious chance.
De Ketelaere with a header
The follow-up corner finds De Ketelaere’s header but he can’t get any power on it.
We’re off!
And Castagne immediately tests Freese with a curler from distance!
The players are out
We’ve had the anthems, complete with US Air Force flypast.
Kick-off is imminent.
Belgium’s great escape
If you switched off your telly before the 86th minute of Belgium’s last match against Senegal, you’d be shocked to see them playing again today.
The Red Devils were two goals down after having been thoroughly outplayed by Senegal when suddenly Lukaku conjured a goal out of nothing and Belgium equalised moments later, before an extra-time penalty completed the mother of all escapes.
Recalling Tim Howard’s 2014 heroics
Today’s meeting carries echoes of 2014, when Belgium knocked the US out in the last 16 after extra time in Brazil.
The match is best remembered for Tim Howard’s record-setting goalkeeping performance, making 16 saves.
Mamdani dodges Balogun question
The New York City mayor steers clear of “trouble”.
Belgium’s De Bruyne, Lukaku and Doku all start on the bench
Some surprising calls by Belgium coach Rudy Garcia.
The starting XI: Thibaut Courtois, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper, Youri Tielemans, Leandro Trossard, Charles De Ketelaere, Timothy Castagne, Nathan Ngoy, Nicolas Raskin, Amadou Onana, Dodi Lukebakio
Balogun named in US starting lineup
Balogun, USMNT’s leading scorer at the tournament on three, spearheads the US attack alongside Christian Pulisic.
Coach Mauricio Pochettino selects Matt Freese to start in goal, with the starting XI unchanged from the Bosnia match.
The lineup: Matt Freese, Sergino Dest, Chris Richards, Tyler Adams, Antonee Robinson, Weston McKennie, Christian Pulisic, Tim Ream, Alex Freeman, Malik Tillman, Folarin Balogun.
Rubio weighs in
Here’s what the top US diplomat had to say earlier about the Balogun row.
Integrity of World Cup questioned after Trump secures Balogun reprieve
Football leaders have questioned the World Cup’s integrity after FIFA lifted Balogun’s suspension in an extraordinary move.
The furor has centered on a phone call that President Donald Trump made last week to FIFA head Gianni Infantino to make the case that the US striker should not have been shown a red card during last week’s match against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
European football body UEFA said FIFA “crossed a red line” and called the decision by FIFA’s disciplinary committee “unprecedented, incomprehensible and unjustifiable.”
Trump has taken credit for getting FIFA to review the foul, but said he did not demand an outcome.
Welcome to our liveblog
Co-hosts USA take on Belgium in the World Cup round of 16 in just over an hour, with striker Folarin Balogun in the hosts’ starting lineup after his red-card suspension was lifted by FIFA in a decision that sparked outrage across the sport.
Whoever wins this match will go on to face Spain on Friday at Inglewood, California, for a semi-final berth against France or Morocco.
Kick-off is at 5pm in Seattle, 7pm EST and 2am in Brussels.
