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The U.S. men's national team faces a historic moment as it prepares to battle Belgium in the round of 16 at the World Cup on Monday, coinciding with Independence Day weekend and the nation's 250th anniversary.
Having secured its first men's World Cup knockout stage victory since 2002 with a round of 32 triumph over Bosnia and Herzegovina, the USMNT now confronts an aging European powerhouse in the round of 16, aiming to reach the quarterfinal for only the second time ever and the first since 2002.
While manager Mauricio Pochettino's squad is producing some of the finest soccer in USMNT history, nothing comes easy at this stage of the competition. Adding to the difficulty, the task of eliminating Belgium is further complicated by the absence of star forward Folarin Balogun, who is suspended following a red card received against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Without their key man, the USMNT will need to source goals from other avenues.
Here, Sports Illustrated examines the three most crucial players for the USMNT as it faces the world's No. 9-ranked side, which enters the match riding high after overcoming Senegal 3–2 in extra time, having been down 2–0 as late as the 85th minute.
Christian Pulisic
Christian Pulisic logged 88 minutes against Bosnia and Herzegovina but contributed little in possession and in the final third. It was evident he was still managing some discomfort after sitting out the Australia match and most of the Türkiye game due to a pre-existing issue, and while he took the field, he wasn't performing at the level the USMNT requires. Against Belgium, and with Balogun unavailable, his offensive impact becomes absolutely vital.
The 27-year-old can draw inspiration from his performance in a 4–1 victory over Paraguay, where he delivered dangerous crosses into the box and drove inside with incisive dribbles. However, he may also find himself deployed in a more central striking role, filling some of the void left by Balogun's dynamic movement.
However Pochettino chooses to deploy his most gifted player, the expectation to deliver will be enormous, and the Hershey, Pennsylvania native may need to contribute multiple goals—something he hasn't accomplished in a competitive match since a Dec. 8 brace against Torino while at AC Milan.
Tyler Adams
A dynamic force when at his best, Tyler Adams will need to elevate his offensive contributions against Belgium, while simultaneously going head-to-head with Kevin De Bruyne and Youri Tielemans, both of whom have rediscovered their sharpness during the Red Devils' final group stage win over New Zealand and their dramatic late comeback against Senegal.
Familiar with De Bruyne's quality from four Premier League encounters between Bournemouth and Manchester City over the years, Adams won't be overawed and has demonstrated the composure to settle a match when things begin to unravel.
After registering zero chances created against Bosnia and Herzegovina and contributing just two defensive actions, the 27-year-old must become a more impactful presence, particularly given the reduced individual creativity in Balogun's absence and the dangerous midfield threat Belgium brings.
Alex Freeman
While not directly affected by Balogun's suspension, Alex Freeman will play a pivotal role in the most significant match of his young career. Adams gets to square off with a veteran star like De Bruyne in midfield, but Freeman will be matched up against Manchester City winger Jérémy Doku, who has been in outstanding form since becoming a first-time father mid-tournament.
Doku's explosive runs down the flank will push Freeman to his limits in a battle of pace, while the physical contest will add another layer to this key matchup. Additionally, Doku's ability to cut inside at full speed presents a different kind of challenge from anything Freeman has encountered in the World Cup so far.
Despite featuring for just 56 minutes in the round of 32, Doku registered four touches in the attacking penalty area and created two chances, while also generating space for overlapping runs from left back Maxim De Cuyper—all of which could pose serious problems for Freeman.
Fortunately for the former Orlando City player, Sergiño Dest's presence as a right midfielder should help relieve some of the burden, even as significant defensive duties remain part of his expected responsibilities.