US goalkeeper Freese blunder gifts Belgium third goal in World Cup exit
1-4
Finished
-
9'
Goal
Charles DE KETELAERE (Belgium) scores!! -
31'
Goal
Malik TILLMAN (USA) scores!! -
33'
Goal
Charles DE KETELAERE (Belgium) scores!! -
35'
Yellow card
Weston McKENNIE (USA) is booked by -
57'
Goal
Hans VANAKEN (Belgium) scores!! -
69'
Yellow card
Malik TILLMAN (USA) is booked by -
90'+3'
Goal
Romelu LUKAKU (Belgium) scores!!
USA squad
- Selected
-
2 Sergino DEST
Defender -
3 Chris RICHARDS
Defender -
4 Tyler ADAMS
Midfielder -
5 Antonee ROBINSON
Defender -
8 Weston McKENNIE
Midfielder -
10 Christian PULISIC
Forward -
13 Tim REAM
C Defender -
16 Alex FREEMAN
Defender -
17 Malik TILLMAN
Midfielder -
20 Folarin BALOGUN
Forward -
24 Matt FREESE
Goalkeeper -
1 Matt TURNER
Goalkeeper -
6 Auston TRUSTY
Defender -
7 Giovanni REYNA
Midfielder -
9 Ricardo PEPI
Forward -
11 Brenden AARONSON
Forward -
12 Miles ROBINSON
Defender -
14 Sebastian BERHALTER
Midfielder -
18 Max ARFSTEN
Defender -
19 Haji WRIGHT
Forward -
21 Timothy WEAH
Forward -
22 Mark McKENZIE
Defender -
23 Joe SCALLY
Defender -
25 Chris BRADY
Goalkeeper -
26 Alex ZENDEJAS
Forward - Full squad
-
15 Cristian ROLDAN
Midfielder
Belgium squad
- Selected
-
1 Thibaut COURTOIS
Goalkeeper -
4 Brandon MECHELE
Defender -
5 Maxim DE CUYPER
Defender -
8 Youri TIELEMANS
C Midfielder -
10 Leandro TROSSARD
Forward -
14 Dodi LUKEBAKIO
Forward -
17 Charles DE KETELAERE
Forward -
21 Timothy CASTAGNE
Defender -
23 Nicolas RASKIN
Midfielder -
24 Amadou ONANA
Midfielder -
25 Nathan NGOY
Defender -
2 Zeno DEBAST
Defender -
3 Arthur THEATE
Defender -
6 Axel WITSEL
Midfielder -
7 Kevin DE BRUYNE
Midfielder -
9 Romelu LUKAKU
Forward -
11 Jeremy DOKU
Forward -
12 Senne LAMMENS
Goalkeeper -
13 Mike PENDERS
Goalkeeper -
15 Thomas MEUNIER
Defender -
16 Koni DE WINTER
Defender -
18 Joaquin SEYS
Defender -
19 Diego MOREIRA
Midfielder -
20 Hans VANAKEN
Midfielder -
22 Alexis SAELEMAEKERS
Midfielder -
26 Matias FERNANDEZ-PARDO
Forward
The United States suffered a defensive collapse against Belgium in a last-16 tie at the 2026 World Cup, with a goalkeeping error handing the Belgians a decisive third goal. USA goalkeeper Matt Freese made a serious misjudgement, gifting possession to Belgium's Hans Vanaken, who was left with a simple finish. The moment, described as a "total calamity", underlined the hosts' difficulties as Belgium seized control of the match.
The blunder was part of a wider pattern of errors from the US defence during the game, which Belgium ultimately won 4-1 to knock the hosts out. The BBC footage highlighting the goalkeeping mistake is available to UK users only.
- Belgium beat the USA 4-1 in a World Cup last-16 tie.
- Keeper Matt Freese's error gifted Belgium's Vanaken an easy third goal.
- US defensive mistakes let Belgium take control of the match.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by BBC Sport as “‘Total calamity!’ US gift Belgium a third goal”.