{"id":6153,"date":"2026-07-04T21:54:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-04T21:54:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/?p=6153"},"modified":"2026-07-04T21:54:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-04T21:54:23","slug":"for-the-usa-a-rare-world-cup-opportunity-knocks-vs-belgium-in-the-round-of-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/?p=6153","title":{"rendered":"For The USA, A Rare World Cup Opportunity Knocks vs. Belgium In The Round Of 16"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"subnav-title ff-ffc bold fs-23 lh-25 uc pd-b-10\">\n            POPULAR SEARCHES\n          <\/p>\n<p class=\"subnav-title ff-ffc bold fs-23 lh-25 uc pd-b-10\">\n            BROWSE BY\n          <\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14><strong>SEATTLE <\/strong>\u2014<strong> <\/strong>&#8220;Great moments are born from great opportunity.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>It\u2019s little wonder why USA coach Mauricio Pochettino co-opted one of the most famous quotes in American sports history in the build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, noted fan of the Miracle on Ice that he has become.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>Originally, the sentiment applied to the entire tournament. Now, it perfectly encapsulates Monday\u2019s all-or-nothing round of 16 contest here against Belgium.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>This is the big one.<\/p>\n<p><span>(Photo by Lyndsay Radnedge\/ISI Photos\/ISI Photos via Getty Images).<\/span> <\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>In the last three World Cups the U.S. mens national team participated in, it was eliminated at this stage. But none of those teams was riding the wave of momentum that has captured the imagination of the American public over the last month. None talked openly about winning the whole thing. Most crucially, none of them were playing here at home.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>&#8220;As a team, we want to leave our mark on the game and a legacy behind,&#8221; veteran midfielder Tyler Adams said on Friday. &#8220;I want it to be more than just what this moment has created and the hype around it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>Only a victory will accomplish that.<\/p>\n<p><span>(Photo by Erin Chang\/ISI Photos\/ISI Photos via Getty Images)<\/span> <!--&gt;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>As well as the co-hosts have done so far at this World Cup \u2014 including winning a World Cup knockout match for the first time since 2002 \u2014 what has long been considered a golden generation of players has yet to manage even one so-called \"signature\" win against a truly elite foe. In the round of 16 at Qatar 2022, they were thoroughly outclassed in a 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>Monday represents a chance to show how much they\u2019ve improved in the almost four years since. Last week\u2019s do-or-die 2-0 triumph over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the new round of 32 was a good start.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>Now it gets real.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>\"You need to embrace the moment, that's for sure, to have an opportunity to play in around a 16 game, which obviously in the last World Cup we did,\" Adams said before the U.S. trained Saturday at Husky Stadium on the University of Washington campus. \"It's exciting. It was nice to get a little bit of a taste of what it feels like to play with something a little bit more on the line in the last game. I think that's good preparation.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>Still, topping Belgium is another matter entirely. The Red Devils embarrassed the Americans in a March exhibition in Atlanta, coming from behind to beat the home team, 5-2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span>(Photo by Shaun Clark\/ISI Photos\/ISI Photos via Getty Images)<\/span> --><\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>Adams didn\u2019t play in that match because of injury. Neither did five others who started against the Bosnians: keeper Matt Freese, defenders Alex Freeman and Chris Richards and wing back Sergi\u00f1o Dest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>&#8220;It doesn&#8217;t matter,&#8221; Ream said of the last meeting with Belgium. &#8220;This is a completely different game than in March.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>He&#8217;s right. It&#8217;s easily the Stars and Stripes&#8217; biggest game of this World Cup so far.<\/p>\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>Belgium is an aging team. Coach Rudi Garcia\u2019s roster still boasts four players who featured when the Belgians topped the U.S., 2-1, in extra time in the round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, including keeper Thibaut Courtois and the two goalscorers that night in Salvador, Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku. But they\u2019re still stacked. Manchester City winger J\u00e9r\u00e9my Doku, in particular, gave the U.S. fits in Atlanta.<\/p>\n<p><span>(Photo by BRUNO FAHY \/ BELGA MAG \/ Belga \/ AFP via Getty Images)<\/span> <!--&gt;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>Containing him will be a team effort, with Dest and Freeman requiring support from midfield destroyer Adams, center back Richards and anyone else in the proximity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>\"We will make it really difficult for their wingers to even go behind our defense,\" Dest vowed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>Easier said than done.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>\"Not a lot of teams in the world can slow [Doku] down,\" said Adams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>That\u2019s the assignment nonetheless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>Chances like this don\u2019t come along very often. The fanbase that has wholeheartedly embraced this team will quickly forget the three games they've won at this World Cup if they don\u2019t take advantage and go at least one step further than they have in almost a quarter-century.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>If they do, though, the legacy Pochettino, Adams and others have talked about leaving will be secure. The U.S. would then have a chance, mostly pressure-free, to upset Spain or Portugal and reach the semifinals.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>Do that, and these 26 players will walk together for the rest of their lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>\"Taking this thing as far as we can is the most important thing,\" Adams said. \"We have a good opportunity here to do so.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>Locked in as they are on Belgium, the bigger picture must remain in the background for now. But they all know it's there.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>\"We are, as we all continue to say, very aware of the impact that we're having around the country,\" said Ream, who called Monday\u2019s game an \"opportunity to continue to inspire tens of millions of people, inspire kids.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"ff-h fs-16 lh-1pt6 mg-b-15 article-content\" data-v-a2155f14>It's one this U.S. team has earned. We'll see if they can turn it into a moment no American soccer fan will ever forget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"color:var(-color-text-primary);font-family:inherit;font-size:18px;font-weight:700;line-height:1.25;margin:0;min-width:0\">4 Ways USA Could Replace Suspended Star Striker Folarin Balogun vs. Belgium<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"color:var(-color-text-primary);font-family:inherit;font-size:18px;font-weight:700;line-height:1.25;margin:0;min-width:0\">USA vs. Belgium Confirmed For The Round Of 16: Here's What To Know<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p style=\"color:var(-color-text-primary);font-family:inherit;font-size:18px;font-weight:700;line-height:1.25;margin:0;min-width:0\">USA vs. Belgium: Kit Matchups Revealed For Round Of 16<\/p>\n\n--><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>POPULAR SEARCHES BROWSE BY SEATTLE \u2014 &#8220;Great moments are born from great opportunity.&#8221; It\u2019s little wonder why USA coach Mauricio Pochettino co-opted one of the most famous quotes in American sports history in the build-up to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, noted fan of the Miracle on Ice that he has become. Originally, the sentiment [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":6152,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soccer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6153","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6153"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6153\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6152"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6153"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/play-live.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}