Belgium players say they will need to show 'balls' to overcome the hostile atmosphere of a pro-US crowd in Seattle for their last-16 match against the United States on Monday. The Red Devils have been based in Seattle throughout the World Cup and will play in the city on Monday.
Belgium unfazed by hostile crowd
Left-back Maxim De Cuyper stated on Friday: 'I think we just have to … show balls on the pitch. Try to play your own game. If you play against 80,000 supporters or with 80,000, you have to try to do the same.' The Americans have enjoyed strong support from home crowds throughout the tournament, including nearly 67,000 fans in Seattle for their group-stage victory over Australia.
Full-back Timothy Castagne added: 'As soon as it turns a little less good for them, [the crowd] can also turn against them, and they will have more pressure. So, I don't have a problem, it doesn't bother me. We play and we don't hear what's going on around the pitch. When we're on the pitch, we're a bit in our bubble.'
Previous meeting and growth of US team
This will not be the first meeting between the sides in 2026. In March, Belgium humbled the US 5-2 in Atlanta, a result that created significant doubt about the Americans' prospects at this World Cup. Dodi Lukébakio, who scored twice in that rout, acknowledged: 'They have been growing a lot since the last friendly game.'
De Cuyper warned against drawing too many conclusions from Belgium's victory, saying the scoreline gave a 'distorted picture'. He praised goalkeeper Senne Lammens's performance, noting the result could have been different without him. 'It was already being said back then that we might face the US at the World Cup,' De Cuyper said. 'Of course, many players weren't there at the time. But it is an advantage that we have already seen them. We are taking things away from it. Although it remains to be seen how they present themselves.'
US without key striker
The US will be without striker Folarin Balogun, suspended after a controversial red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Balogun has been among the United States' most dangerous players at the World Cup. De Cuyper was coy when asked about adapting to new personnel: 'I don't want to say too much, which qualities are the best. They have a lot of danger in the team.'
Veteran midfielder Axel Witsel was more forthcoming, saying Belgium will 'absolutely have to adapt to the fact that they play three at the back. I think we have the weapons to hurt them. We had already done it in a friendly in March, but today the context is totally different … in a stadium that will be only for them against us.'
