Before kick-off: define the sample first
| Outcome | matches | Share |
|---|---|---|
| USA wins | 0 | — |
| Draws | 0 | — |
| Belgium wins | 0 | — |
FactUsing the explicit scope of completed 2026 World Cup matches before kick-off, the teams had met 0 times: 0 USA wins, 0 draws and 0 Belgium wins. This is not presented as an all-time record.
FactThe comparison direction on this page is fixed: USA is the recorded home side, Belgium the away side, and 1–4 is stored in that order. A later meeting would remain a separate event record.
Personnel: how the starting XI changed
FactUSA changed 0 starters from its previous match; Belgium changed 4 starters. Continuity is calculated from confirmed starters only.
FactUSA's new starters include no incoming starter; Belgium's new starters include Nathan Ngoy, Amadou Onana, Nicolas Raskin, Dodi Lukebakio. The names connect the continuity count to specific personnel.
The result: 1–4 and the decisive sequence
FactThe final score was USA 1–4 Belgium. The verified scoring sequence was 9′ Charles De Ketelaere、31′ Malik Tillman、33′ Charles De Ketelaere、57′ Hans Vanaken、90′ Romelu Lukaku. Score, sequence and line-up changes are facts; the mechanism inferred from them is labelled as analysis.
FactThe verification index for USA versus Belgium fixes four fields: the 1–4 final score, the 2026 FIFA World Cup · Round of 16 stage, the Lumen Field location and 5 scoring events. Together they identify this match without borrowing context from another fixture.
FactNode 1: Charles De Ketelaere scored for Belgium in minute 9, setting the ledger at 0–1; Node 2: Malik Tillman scored for USA in minute 31, setting the ledger at 1–1; Node 3: Charles De Ketelaere scored for Belgium in minute 33, setting the ledger at 1–2; Node 4: Hans Vanaken scored for Belgium in minute 57, setting the ledger at 1–3; Node 5: Romelu Lukaku scored for Belgium in minute 90, setting the ledger at 1–4
FactUSA's location key for this match is Lumen Field, shared by Belgium; USA's 1 goals and Belgium's 4 goals belong only to this venue and kick-off record.
Why this result made sense
AnalysisUSA versus Belgium, 1–4: Belgium converted the lead against USA into the 1-4 result. Aggregated player data shows a shot gap of 8 and a pass-completion gap of 6.4 percentage points; game-state management mattered more than any single possession number.