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USA vs. Belgium score, World Cup live updates: Folarin Balogun to play Monday after red card fiasco
The U.S. men's national team is back in action Monday night, taking on Belgium in the World Cup Round of 16 at Lumen Field in Seattle. When they do so, they'll have starter Folarin Balogun available — a pleasant surprise for fans after he'd earned himself a red card in last week's win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, which, per FIFA's World Cup rules, is automatically accompanied by a one-game suspension.
However, in a stunning turn of events, FIFA announced he'd be available for the U.S. team's match against Belgium on Sunday, suspending his one-game suspension for a probationary period of one year. You can read more about the timeline of events on the matter here.
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With Balogun and star Christian Pulisic both available, the U.S. enters Monday's match with a full arsenal while the team looks to secure its first World Cup quarterfinal berth since 2002 with a win.
After winning Group G, Belgium was nearly upset in the Round of 32 after Senegal took a two-goal lead in the second half. Belgium ended up scoring goals in the 86th and 89th minutes, forcing the game to extra time before scoring the go-ahead point on a penalty in stoppage time of the second extra-time period to advance.
How to watch USMNT vs. Belgium
Start time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Lumen Field | Seattle
TV channel: Fox, Telemundo
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for the latest updates as the U.S. faces Belgium in the World Cup Round of 16.
Nick Bromberg
What an absolute disaster. What an absolute disaster.
Matt Freese came out of the box and … wow.
It was a long ball for Charles De Ketelaare, Freese chested it down to nowhere, De Ketelaare picked his pocket and Vanaken knocks it into an empty net.
Nick Bromberg
Pulisic doesn’t look 100% after this.
Nick Bromberg
Christian Pulisic goes down in a heap after Youri Tielemans’ foot stepped in front as he attempted a shot. No foul was called because Tielemans had position.
The game was briefly stopped, but Pulisic continues.
Kari Anderson
Awkward collision there, as Tim Ream gets a great stop on Dodi Lukébakio but trips and nearly hits the wall in the meantime. Both players appear to be okay.
Nick Bromberg
The United States has looked better to start the second half, but it’s still searching for cohesion in the final third.
Kari Anderson
Reyna coming in will also change the formation for the USMNT, with the midfielder playing more central. Dest had started as a forward on the right side, with Balogun up top.
Dest did not have a good start to the game, making his early substitution a little less surprising. Pochettino is opting both to change personnel, but also approach the attack in a different way for the second half.
Nick Bromberg
It was Sergiño Dest who made way for Gio Reyna.
Kari Anderson
Gio Reyna, who started on the bench, has entered the game with the starters. Looks like Pochettino is making a halftime sub.
Kari Anderson
Not a great start for the U.S., who is down after a Belgium-dominated first half. Malik Tillman’s brilliant free kick and three saves from Matt Freese are the only thing keeping the USMNT in the game.
Heading into the tournament, defense was one of the U.S.’s biggest weaknesses: Though the team has some particularly excellent midfielders and some world-class forwards, the USMNT’s defense was too dependent on Tim Ream and Chris Richards playing perfectly. Any mistake, such as Ream’s missed jump on the second goal, was all it took for Belgium to break through.
Still, the attack isn’t quite coming together either. With Ream and Richards still the U.S.’s best shot at holding the line, they’ll likely stay in as planned, but expect some changes if things stay stagnant to start the half.
Nick Bromberg
The United States trails at halftime of a game that matters for the first time all tournament.
Kari Anderson
That was some of the best ball movement the U.S. has had in the attacking third this half, as Sergiño Dest finds Folarin Balogun with an excellent ball and Belgium is forced to kick it out of bounds.
The corner kick, though, is easily handled by Courtois. A bit of a letdown.
Nick Bromberg
Sergiño Dest has had a rough first half down the right side for the United States. Attacks down his side of the field have fizzled out for multiple reasons.
Kari Anderson
Brief confusion, as the referee confers with the VAR to determine if the U.S. gets a corner kick, or if it’ll be a goal kick, after Folarin Balogun’s shot goes sky-high. It’s eventually ruled a goal kick. The crowd is not thrilled.
Nick Bromberg
Belgium had a real good look to make it 3-1 as Dodi Lukébakio got a free header on a free kick. But he sent it wide.
Kari Anderson
A late slide from McKennie clips the feet of Nicolas Raskin, sending the Belgian midfielder flying.
The Belgium sideline immediately stood up after that McKennie tackle, furious. McKennie tried to plead his case with the ref, but was unsuccessful; he’ll go in the book in the first half, and will have to be careful for the rest of the game.
Nick Bromberg
Nick Bromberg
Way too much space for the cross in towards De Ketelaare.
Nick Bromberg
The United States had the game tied for 61 seconds.
And here’s how it happened.
Kari Anderson
Belgium responds quickly to retake the lead. All of the energy in the stadium that Tillman’s goal might’ve given the fans is immediately sucked away.
Nick Bromberg
It’s De Ketelaare again. Right over the top of Tim Ream.
So much for that tie.
