Former USA coach Jurgen Klinsmann, part of FIFA’s Technical Study Group for the 2026 World Cup, has chosen Belgium as the favorites in the round of 16 match against the co-host USA. The game is set to take place at the Seattle Stadium on Tuesday.
Belgium has maintained an impressive record, remaining unbeaten since March 20, 2025, when they suffered a 3-1 loss to Ukraine. Under head coach Rudi Garcia, Belgium has achieved an outstanding 11 wins, 6 draws, and no losses across various competitions, showcasing a remarkable goal difference of +40 in 17 matches.
Jurgen Klinsmann expressed his preference for Belgium due to their rich history and team quality. He highlighted Belgium’s strong performance in a friendly match against the US in March, where they secured a convincing 5-2 victory.
The USA has faced Belgium in seven previous encounters, with their sole victory dating back to a 3-0 win at the inaugural World Cup in Montevideo, Uruguay. Despite this, the US team has suffered six consecutive defeats against Belgium in recent years, including encounters in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and a pre-World Cup match earlier this year.
