local
FIFA World Cup 2026: Mistakes costly as US eliminated by Belgium, 4-1
By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk at WSB-TV (ABC) - News
· July 7, 2026
· 4 min read
The United States’ dream of advancing at the World Cup skidded to a halt on Monday, as sloppy play and two key defensive mistakes -- including a major blunder by the Americans’ goalkeeper -- led to a 4-1 loss to Belgium in a round of 16 match.Read more trending newsThe victory at Seattle’s Lumen ...
Key takeaway goalkeeper Matt Freese made a huge mistake, winning the ball outside of the goal box but then giving it away for an easy empty-net goal by Hans Vanaken in the 57th minute, The Athletic reported.
Why this matters in The Atlanta
The US team's elimination from the World Cup has local implications for Atlanta 's soccer fans, who had been eagerly following the team's progress. The city's diverse community, with a strong presence of international residents, had been abuzz with excitement as the US team advanced through the tournament. While the team's loss to Belgium is a disappointment, it's likely to spark lively discussions and debates among local soccer enthusiasts about what went wrong and how the team can improve in the future. The fact that Belgium had also eliminated the US from the 2014 World Cup in Seattle may add a sense of déjà vu for some fans, but for others, it will be a reminder that the team needs to regroup and refocus for upcoming international competitions. As the city's soccer community processes the loss, it will be interesting to see how local fans and teams respond and what lessons can be applied to Atlanta's own soccer scene.
About this story
Original reporting by WSB-TV (ABC) - News . The Atlanta 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 WSB-TV (ABC) - News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 7, 2026 ·
Source: WSB-TV (ABC) - News ·
Reading time: 4 min
Get more The Atlanta stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering local and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? The United States’ dream of advancing at the World Cup skidded to a halt on Monday, as sloppy play and two key defensive mistakes -- including a major blunder by the Americans’ goalkeeper -- led to a 4-1 loss to Belgium in a round of 16 match.Read more trending newsThe victory at Seattle’s Lumen ...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 7, 2026 by WSB-TV (ABC) - News and curated for The Atlanta readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk at WSB-TV (ABC) - News. To learn more about how The Atlanta selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Atlanta, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More local →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter