U.S. Soccer’s Tough Loss Against Belgium

SEATTLE — During the first half of the U.S. match against Paraguay, Christian Pulisic truly shone, looking like the standout player on the field. However, during the game against Belgium in Seattle on Monday night, the burden of public expectations appeared to weigh heavily on him.

The United States was in search of a superstar to create a memorable World Cup moment. Instead, the audience at Lumen Field witnessed Pulisic struggle through perhaps the hardest 59 minutes of his career, eventually leaving the field in noticeable pain.

From the outset, Belgium seemed to take control, employing a strategy that effectively stifled Pulisic. They didn’t allow him even a moment to breathe, let alone find space to operate.

Every time Pulisic touched the ball, he faced immediate pressure. Belgian defenders physically leaned on him, blocking passing options and disrupting the rhythm that had proven so effective against teams like Paraguay, Turkey, and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

For the first time this summer, Pulisic appeared anxious, rushed, and, honestly, out of sorts.

Instead of waiting for teammates to support him, he hastily forced passes that weren’t there and tried to weave through traffic. By halftime, he had lost possession 11 times, a striking statistic for someone responsible for much of America’s offensive efforts.

It didn’t seem like a lack of effort; if anything, Pulisic seemed almost desperate to turn the night around.

Early in the second half, he caught a glimmer of opportunity and sprinted toward the Belgian penalty area. For a fleeting moment, it seemed like he might create the breakthrough the team desperately needed. But then everything fell apart.

When Pulisic went to take a shot, his foot hit a Belgian defender’s leg. He collapsed, clutching his right leg. Fans initially thought it was a foul just outside the penalty area, but when the referee didn’t call it, the crowd erupted in boos. Replays later confirmed the referee’s correct decision. Pulisic struggled to get to his feet, limping noticeably.

“I completely twisted my ankle on that one play,” Pulisic mentioned. “It was just a disappointing ending.”

The sequence proved to be a crushing blow.

Shortly afterward, Belgium exploited a defensive error and took the lead following a mistake by goalkeeper Matt Frees. In a tough decision, U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino substituted Pulisic for Sebastian Berhalter in the 59th minute.

Pulisic’s reaction on the bench said it all — he sank down in frustration, legs shaking as trainers examined his injury. Cameras caught him lost in thought, occasionally receiving comfort from teammates, knowing he couldn’t influence the game any longer.

“It sucks,” Pulisic expressed afterward, reflecting on his feelings. “I got hurt before and now I got hurt again. It was really bad. It was really tough. It was hard for me to deal with it. But we have a great team, and they should be really proud.”

If this marks Pulisic’s last memory of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it’s a stark contrast to the moments leading up to it.

Looking back on the tournament, Pulisic shared, “There were times when I thought my level was high, but overall it was disappointing. We didn’t get many of the moments we were hoping for. We really wanted to help the team take the next step and beat a solid opponent. It’s disappointing, but we’ll be back and we’ll figure it out.”