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The penultimate day of round of 16 play at the 2026 FIFA World Cup marked the end for two of the tournament’s biggest attractions: the United States men’s national team and Cristiano Ronaldo. However, for Spain and Belgium, the quarterfinals await. Here’s the best from Match Day 26 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup: BEST OF THE DAY Moment Of The Day Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup journey is over. The 41-year-old played in his final match at the tournament after 27 matches across six different World Cups, starting in 2006. Ronaldo didn’t find the back of the net in Portugal’s 1-0 loss, but he received a warm reception from the fans at Dallas Stadium as though he did. A fitting sendoff for a legend the game. Goal Of The Day Romelu Lukaku might not be fit enough to be Belgium’s starting striker anymore, but it doesn’t matter. Even off of the bench, Lukaku continues to find the back of the net, bagging his 93rd career international goal for Belgium and second of the tournament. Save Of The Day Costa had a great tournament for Portugal, stepping up in both knockout-stage games against Croatia and Spain. The FC Porto keeper’s best moment against Spain came early on when he saved a shot from Lamine Yamal and then was called right back into action. The initial save went out to Spanish winger Alex Baena, whose effort forced Costa to stretch fully so he could get a hand on it. Assist Of The Day With the ball in the air, headed toward the edge of the United States’ box, Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin had four defenders closing in on him. He beat the first two by splitting them with his first touch, and the other two watched as he whipped a grounded cross into Charles De Ketelaere to give Belgium the lead in the ninth minute. Portugal vs. Spain USA vs. Belgium​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

SEATTLE STADIUM — It’s the end of the world for the U.S. men’s national team. The USA was the final 2026 FIFA World Cup co-host still standing after Canada and Mexico were eliminated over the weekend. On Monday, the Americans joined them, losing 4-1 to Belgium in front of another raucous home crowd with a spot in Friday’s quarterfinal against Spain on the line. “Tonight was not a good performance,” midfielder Tyler Adams said. “It sucks.” Despite the controversial return of striker Folarin Balogun to coach Mauricio Pochettino’s starting lineup — Balogun, who was originally suspended for Monday’s contest because of the red card he received in last week’s 2-0 victory in the round of 32 over Bosnia and Herzegovina, was allowed to play by FIFA’s disciplinary committee following pressure from U.S. Soccer and government officials — the U.S. couldn’t top an opponent global soccer’s governing body ranks No. 9 to the Stars and Stripes’ No. 16. It only took Charles De Ketelaere eight minutes to put Belgium ahead. And while USA playmaker Malik Tillman pulled the hosts level with his second free-kick goal in as many knockout games, the Belgian forward killed whatever momentum Tillman’s strike had generated by notching his second — the eventual game-winner — moments later to restore the Red Devils’ lead. They wouldn’t relinquish it again, with Hans Vanaken adding the backbreaking third in the second half following a mistake from Stars and Stripes keeper Matt Freese. Romelu Lukaku added insult to injury with Belgium’s fourth in stoppage time. “Today we didn’t show our real quality as a team,” Pochettino said. “We need to accept that sometimes this type of thing happens. But in a tournament like a World Cup, when that happens, you don’t have another chance.” Monday’s defeat marks the fourth time the U.S. has been eliminated in the round of 16 since 2010. The Americans’ only win at that stage came against regional rival Mexico in 2002. Here are my four takeaways from the USA’s World Cup elimination loss: 1. Belgium Was The Better Team… As impressive as the Belgians were in coming back to beat Senegal in the round of 32, despite trailing 2-0 late, the Red Devils hadn’t been overly convincing at this World Cup. In group play, they couldn’t beat Egypt. They couldn’t beat Iran. Rumors of infighting persisted even after Rudi Garcia’s team had advanced to the last 16. Perhaps it was FIFA’s decision to overturn Balogun’s ban, but Belgium appeared as cohesive as could be from the first whistle on Monday. It’s not as if either of De Ketelaere goals came against the run of play; Garcia’s side outshot the U.S., 11-2, in the first half and enjoyed 53% of possession, even though the Americans trailed for all but 10 of the opening 45 minutes. When the U.S. did have the ball, it didn’t do much with it. Pochettino’s squad had looked so sharp and assertive all tournament; suddenly it appeared sloppy and tentative in its biggest game. Even Tillman’s free kick lacked precision; only a fortunate deflection off the Belgian wall allowed the effort to beat veteran backstop Thibaut Courtois. “I wouldn’t say we weren’t as aggressive” as in previous games, Christian Pulisic said. “Belgium had a good game plan. They played balls in behind us when we pressed and caused a lot of problems, won a lot of second balls, and they were good in the boxes. That’s what the game comes down to. And they were clinical.” The second half wasn’t much better for the U.S. And when Belgium went up by two, the mountain was simply too tall for the Americans to climb. 2. … But Unforced Errors Doomed The USA. Again. Four years ago in Qatar, the U.S. began its round of 16 contest vs. the Netherlands superbly. But the Dutch punished the first mistake the Americans made — Memphis Depay was allowed to arrive in the box unchecked, easily finishing Denzel Dumfries’ deft cutback pass — and never looked back on the way to a decisive 3-1 victory. With that unhappy experience under their belts, an older and wider USA was supposed to know better this time. That’s not how it played out. Errors are rarely forgiven at World Cups. That goes double in elimination games. Yet both of De Ketelaere’s goals were preventable; the other U.S. defenders were slow to react to Alex Freeman’s wayward clearance on the first. On the second, the Italy-based striker out-jumped flat-footed U.S. captain Tim Ream. The timing of Belgium’s second goal was terrible, coming just 61 seconds after play restarted following Tillman’s equalizer. While that strike killed the momentum, the fatal blow came just before the half-hour mark. Freese was the culprit this time, with Vanaken firing Belgium’s third into the Americans’ vacated net after Freese raced out of his 18-yard-box for an interception, only to promptly give the ball away. “Obviously, disappointed for my error and judgment on the third goal,” Freese said. “I wish the result was different.” 3. Mauricio Pochettino Owns This Failure On Sunday, Pochettino sought to insulate himself from criticism in the event of a loss, saying that he is but “a small part” and that his “players are responsible” for the outcome. But the buck stops with USA’s high-profile 54-year-old coach, who simply couldn’t coax a good performance out of his team against the only elite opponent it faced at this World Cup. Lured as a mercenary with a salary several multiples higher than any previous men’s or women’s boss, the Argentine was supposed to be the man capable of taking perhaps the most talented collection of Americans ever to new heights. Instead, it turned out to be more of the same. While he set a new U.S. record with three World Cup wins, Pochettino was only able to equal what every one of his predecessors this century also achieved: reaching the round of 16. Gregg Berhalter did it four years ago in Qatar. Jürgen Klinsmann’s 2014 squad took Belgium to extra time. Bob Bradley did the same in 2010 after winning a group that included England. And none of them had the advantage of playing at home. “It was a very bad day,” Pochettino said. And it ensures that the Americans’ best showing since the inaugural World Cup in 1930 — Bruce Arena took the Americans all the way to the quarterfinals in 2002 — will remain so for at least another four years. All that talk about reaching the semis this summer, about leaving a legacy, about potentially even winning the World Cup — “Why Not Us?” Pochettino asked at every opportunity — was just that: talk. Top-level sports are a results business. You are what your record says you are. After winning his first two games and a round of 32 match at this World Cup, the former Paris Saint-Germain manager, in the end lost the game that mattered the most. It was surely his last with the U.S., though he didn’t say so explicitly. “Now,” Pochettino said when asked if he might return, “is not a moment to talk about that.” 4. What Comes Next For The Stars And Stripes? Expect changes in the short term. Pochettino was probably never coming back after the World Cup anyway, despite the U.S. Soccer Federation offering before the World Cup to extend his contract through 2030. If that offer isn’t off the table now, it should be. Who will replace Poch? With a search led by USSF CEO JT Batson, new COO Dan Helfrich and acting sporting director Oguchi Onyewu, my money is on Portuguese manager Roberto Martinez, who announced following his team’s loss to Spain that he would not return to the Lusos’ sideline. Or, perhaps the USSF will buy American. There aren’t many obvious domestic candidates; among those, former U.S. assistant B.J. Callaghan might have the best case, having led the U.S. to the 2023 Nations League title as interim coach. Beyond that, who knows? Wednesday’s defeat doesn’t fall on Batson or U.S. Soccer president Cindy Parlow Cone, who both have been wildly successful in their respective roles. Finally, this was surely the international swan song for players such as 38-year-old captain Tim Ream, reserve midfielder Cristian Roldan and others, too. Will Antonee “Jedi” Robinson’s knees last to Morocco, Portugal and Spain for the 2030 World Cup, when he’ll be almost 33? What about the fragile hamstrings of Tyler Adams or Gio Reyna or Sergiño Dest? Adams, McKennie and Pulisic will all also be on the wrong side of 30. Matt Turner will turn 36 during the 2030 World Cup. Pochettino’s roster featured 13 holdovers from 2022. It’s hard to see that many mainstays returning four years from now. “Right now it definitely stinks,” Pulisic said. “[We’ll try to] get some rest now and bounce back as best we can.”​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports

The 2026 FIFA World Cup round of 16 concludes on Tuesday night with a pair of intriguing matchups. First up, defending champions Argentina take on an Egyptian team that is in the middle of its most successful World Cup. The day concludes with Colombia and Switzerland meeting in Vancouver. Both teams have been improving throughout the tournament, and the winner will be a team nobody wants to face. Here is all you need to know for Tuesday at the World Cup: Argentina vs. Egypt When: Tuesday, July 7, noon ET Where: Atlanta Stadium TV: FOX Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One Argentina and Egypt meet on Tuesday at Atlanta Stadium with the winner claiming a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals. Both teams had grueling matchups in the round of 32, as Argentina needed 120 minutes to find its way past Cape Verde with a 3-2 win. Egypt, meanwhile, only prevailed past Australia through a shootout after both teams played to a 1-1 draw after 120 hard-fought minutes. Argentina is the clear favorite in this one, as Lionel Scaloni’s squad has won all four of its games at the tournament and has looked like a strong contender to defend its World Cup title. Of course, La Albiceleste are still heavily reliant on Lionel Messi, who, at age 39, remains a dominant figure in the sport. Messi enters this game having scored seven of Argentina’s 11 goals this tournament. The issue for Argentina in this game, and in every remaining game, is whether the supporting cast can contribute in the rare event that Messi struggles to score. Thus far, the signs are not that encouraging. What is key for Argentina is to see other top scoring options, such as Lautaro Martínez and Julian Alvarez, find the back of the net. In this tournament, Alvarez has no goals and no assists, while Martinez has just one goal. On the flip side, Argentina’s midfield — led by Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Thiago Almada and Rodrigo De Paul — have all played well and have been important to the team’s success. While Argentina continues to play well, Egypt arrives in the round of 16 having won just one of its four games (counting the shootout win over Australia as a draw). It has drawn both Belgium and Iran 1-1 while defeating only New Zealand 3-1. Egypt has fought incredibly hard in this tournament, but wins have been difficult to come by. The Pharaohs are led by legendary Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah, who, at age 34, is potentially playing at his last World Cup. This tournament has been a huge success for him and Hossam Hassan’s team, as it is the first time Egypt ever advanced out of the group stage at the World Cup. In addition to surpassing that barrier, Egypt has now advanced past the first round of the knockout. Argentina is heavily favored in this game, while Egypt has not kept a clean sheet yet in this tournament and now face one of the world’s most powerful offenses. Player to Watch It is hard to think of things that have not been said about Messi, but the Inter Miami attacker has now scored in eight straight World Cup matches. In his career, Messi has 12 goal contributions in the knockout stages of the World Cup. He remains at the heart of everything Argentina does, and even at his age, that might be enough for Argentina to win a second straight title. Switzerland vs. Colombia When: Tuesday, July 7, 4 p.m. ET Where: BC Place Vancouver TV: FOX Stream: Watch three days free on FOX One The World Cup round of 16 will conclude on Tuesday evening when Switzerland and Colombia meet at Vancouver Stadium. It promises to be a distinct clash of styles as Switzerland play with a very disciplined and tactical–oriented approach. Colombia, meanwhile, is very aggressive and possession-oriented with several technical players who can all make big plays. Switzerland began the tournament poorly with a 1–1 draw vs. Qatar. Since then, Murat Yakin’s team has improved significantly with each passing game. First, it was a 4-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina. Then it was a 2-1 win over co-hosts Canada in Vancouver, the same site as Tuesday’s game. Most recently, however, it was a convincing 2-0 win over Algeria, also in Vancouver. Swiss midfielder Johan Manzambi, 20, has been one of the tournament’s breakout young players. In his last three games at this World Cup, Manzambi has three goals and two assists. Another encouraging sign for Switzerland has been that its captain, Granit Xhaka, 33, has turned back the clock and played as he did five-to-seven years ago, when he was Arsenal’s captain. His performance against Algeria was instrumental to the win, and if he can play like that again, Switzerland can win this game. Colombia comes into this game playing very well on both sides of the ball. Defensively, Nestor Lorenzo’s team has kept three clean sheets out of four games this tournament, and its high level of possession has forced opponents to chase its players for long stretches. Offensively, Colombia has a lot of weapons, and the attack is led by winger Luis Díaz, a national icon in Colombia, who is coming off a great season with Bayern Munich. Forward Luis Suárez was a difference maker in the 1–0 win over Ghana in the round of 32. Suarez was subbed into the game in just the eighth minute, but was the most dangerous player on the field for the next 82 minutes, setting up the only goal minutes after coming on. It’s hard to say who the favorite is in this game. Both teams had been playing very well in the last three games. But one thing that is in Colombia’s favor is the massive support it has received from its large contingent of fans who have followed the team. Thus far in the tournament, it has arguably been the best-supported team outside the three hosting nations. Vancouver Stadium will be decidedly behind Colombia on Tuesday night. Player to Watch The Swiss captain is essential to his team’s chances of playing the way it wants to play. Switzerland cannot afford to chase the game for too long, and Xhaka, at his best, can win possession and set up his teammates in the attacking third while also defending well. Switzerland needs him to be in his top form like he was against Ghana.​Latest Sports News from FOX Sports