How the USMNT matches up against Belgium for World Cup Round of 16 clash

SEATTLE — The incredible decision by FIFA to reinstate Folarin Balogun on Sunday almost overshadowed that there is a match to be played Monday, in which 21 players aside from the U.S.striker will be on the field at all times — well, barring another red card.That match qualifies as the most important the U.S.

national team has played since at least the 2002 quarterfinal loss to Germany.Not only is it a chance to get back to that stage for the first time since, but it’s happening on home soil, on prime-time television, against an opponent that — while certainly elite — seems to qualify as beatable.The ratings will almost assuredly set records.

And if the U.S.can win, it will go a long way toward changing what the very sport of soccer means here in America.The Post breaks down the matchup between the U.S.

and Belgium.With the exception of Turkey — a game in which Mauricio Pochettino’s lineup was rotated beyond recognition — this is the first opponent the U.S.has faced that won’t sit back and absorb pressure.That changes the contours of the match significantly.

Pochettino will presumably want his team to play the same way, but whether it can execute that style against Belgium differs entirely from doing so against Bosnia-Herzegovina.Will he dare commit as many men forward knowing Belgium’s speed in attack? And can the Americans maintain possession as they have against a team that’s held on to the ball slightly more than them throughout the tournament, at 57.6 percent of total possession compared to the 57.1 percent for the U.S., per FotMob?Every match of the FIFA World Cup will air on either FOX or FOX Sports 1.If you don’t have cable, you can take advantage of a DIRECTV free trial to stream it all.Prefer to check out the action live and in person? Shop World Cup 2026 tickets on SeatGeek and make sure to use promo code NYPOST10 for $10 off purchases over $250 at checkout if you’re a first-time SeatGeek user.More than likely, that will lead...