FIFA World Cup 2026: "You believed" USMNT pens heartfelt message to supporters after R16 exit
Seattle, July 7
The United States Men's National Team thanked its supporters after the hosts' FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign came to an end with a 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the Round of 16.
In a post on X following the elimination, the USMNT expressed gratitude to fans for their unwavering support throughout the tournament, acknowledging the role they played in backing the team on home soil.
"You believed. You filled stadiums. You brought the game into homes and communities across the country. Most of all, you showed everyone what this crest means. Thank you," the USMNT wrote on X.
Coming to the match, Belgium stormed into the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a commanding 4-1 victory over the hosts, the United States, at Seattle Stadium.
Charles De Ketelaere starred with a brace to earn the Player of the Match award, while Hans Vanaken scored his first-ever FIFA World Cup goal and substitute Romelu Lukaku added a stoppage-time strike, marking his third consecutive World Cup match with a goal.
Belgium dominated much of the contest despite the USA briefly equalising through Malik Tillman's deflected free-kick. A costly goalkeeping error by Matt Freese allowed Belgium to extend their lead before Lukaku sealed the emphatic win late on.
The defeat ended the United States' campaign, making them the last of the three co-host nations to exit the tournament after Canada and Mexico. Belgium will next face Spain in the quarter-finals on July 10 after the Spanish side knocked out Portugal in the Round of 16.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's bittersweet to see the hosts exit. The USMNT fought hard, but Belgium's experience showed. Malik Tillman's free-kick was superb — that deflected goal gave me hope! But Lukaku is a beast, man. We need more Indians in the World Cup to experience this energy. Imagine the noise if we ever host! 🇮🇳⚽
I was in Seattle for the match, and the atmosphere was electric. The US fans were incredible all tournament, even after the loss. It's painful to see the dream end, but this team is young. They'll learn from this. Belgium's midfield just dominated us — De Ketelaere was unplayable.
Honestly, the US is still far behind the top European sides. Look at Belgium — they didn't even play that well, but they scored four. The coaching staff needs a rethink. Why is Freese starting in a knockout game? That error was schoolboy stuff. I hope the US learns and builds a proper football culture, not just rely on athleticism.
The heartfelt message from USMNT was beautiful. "You filled stadiums" — that's what football is all about! In India, we know how powerful that connection can be. Belgium deserved the win, but the US should be proud of their journey. Can't wait to see how the game grows there now. 🇺🇸❤️
As an American living in India, this hurts. The World Cup was a chance to show the world we're serious about football.
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