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The US men's run at the World Cup ends with a 4-1 Round of 16 loss to Belgium
By Becky Sullivan | NPR at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio)
· July 7, 2026
· 3 min read
Charles De Ketelaere #17 of Belgium celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the World Cup Round of 16 match against the United States on Monday in Seattle.(Alex Grimm / Getty Images)
SEATTLE — This time was supposed to be different.
The U.S. men's national team came into this FIFA...
Key takeaway men's national team came into this FIFA World Cup with a lineup full of players with key roles in Europe's top leagues.
Why this matters in The Los Angeles
The US men's national team's disappointing exit from the World Cup will likely resonate with Los Angeles soccer fans, many of whom had high hopes for the team's performance. With a significant number of Angelenos tuning in to watch the games, the team's inability to advance beyond the Round of 16 will be felt throughout the city. The loss to Belgium also underscores the challenges faced by the US team in competing against top-tier European squads, a gap that local soccer enthusiasts will be eager to see bridged in future tournaments. As the city's own soccer community continues to grow, with numerous professional and amateur teams calling Los Angeles home, the US men's national team's performance will be closely watched and analyzed, with fans looking for signs of improvement and progress in the years to come. Local youth soccer programs may also feel the impact of the team's loss.
About this story
Original reporting by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 7, 2026 ·
Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) ·
Reading time: 3 min
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What is this story about? Charles De Ketelaere #17 of Belgium celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the World Cup Round of 16 match against the United States on Monday in Seattle.(Alex Grimm / Getty Images)
SEATTLE — This time was supposed to be different.
The U.S. men's national team came into this FIFA...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 7, 2026 by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Becky Sullivan | NPR at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Los Angeles, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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