TUESDAY, jULY 7, AT 5:30 aM
SEATTLE, July 5: Co-hosts the United States will look to reach the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals for the first time in 24 years when they take on Belgium in a high-stakes Round of 16 encounter at Lumen Field on Tuesday.
A place in the last eight awaits the winners, who will face either Portugal or Spain in the quarter-finals.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side head into the contest after a composed 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the previous round, having earlier topped Group D with six points to book their place in the knockout stages.
The Americans are bidding to equal their best World Cup performance of the modern era. Their last appearance in the quarter-finals came in 2002, while their finest finish remains third place at the inaugural tournament in 1930.
However, the United States have found the Round of 16 to be a stumbling block in recent editions, suffering eliminations at that stage in 2010, 2014 and 2022.
Pochettino will now hope to guide the Stars and Stripes beyond that barrier on home soil, but standing in their way is a Belgian side that has enjoyed overwhelming success in this fixture over the years.
Belgium have won six of the previous seven meetings between the two nations. (Agencies)
