The United States Men’s National Team is chasing the game again. Charles De Ketelaere, Atalanta’s gifted forward, opened the scoring for Belgium against the USMNT in Seattle on July 3, 2026, putting the Red Devils ahead 1-0 in what is shaping up to be one of the most emotionally loaded matches of this summer’s tournament.

The venue is Lumen Field. The stakes are a quarterfinal berth.

A ghost from 2014 walks back onto the field

Belgium knocked the United States out in the Round of 16 in 2014 with a 2-1 victory in extra time. Twelve years later, the bracket has served up the same matchup, same round, different continent.

Belgium arrived in Seattle carrying momentum and a recent tactical reminder of what they’re capable of. In a March 28 friendly, Belgium handed the USMNT a 5-2 defeat, a result that raised serious questions about the American side’s defensive organization heading into the tournament.

De Ketelaere has developed into one of the more complete attacking players in Serie A during his time at Atalanta, capable of combining technically in tight spaces while still contributing clinical finishing that changes knockout matches.

What the US needs to do

The tactical question for the American side is how aggressively to push forward. The 5-2 friendly result earlier this year was, in part, a product of the US leaving gaps while trying to impose themselves going forward.

Belgium’s case for going deep in this tournament

The Red Devils are not the golden generation of Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne at his peak, or Romelu Lukaku in his prime. That era promised a World Cup and never delivered one. This current side carries fewer expectations, which can be its own kind of freedom.