On Monday, co-hosts USA will strive to reach the quarterfinals of a World Cup for only the second time as it takes on Belgium in a match already mired in controversy before a ball has even been kicked.
News emerged earlier today that President Donald Trump asked FIFA to review United States striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match suspension at the World Cup. The organization then decided the player’s ban would be suspended for one year.
Balogun had been due to miss today’s crucial game after receiving a straight red card for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemović in the second half of the USMNT’s 2-0 win last Tuesday. But the ruling means the forward from Monaco is now available for selection.
The decision to suspend Balogun’s ban has provoked an angry response from the Belgian FA and European governing body UEFA, with the latter accusing FIFA of placing the “integrity of the game at stake.”
The row has overshadowed the build-up to what looks set to be an intriguing clash between a USA team that once again impressed in its comfortable victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina, and a Belgium team that produced a remarkable comeback in its absorbing last-32 win over Senegal.
The USA takes on Belgium in this Round of 16 match on Monday at Seattle Stadium (Lumen Field) in Washington, with kickoff set for 5 p.m. PT. That makes it an 8 p.m. ET start on the East Coast in the US and Canada, and a 1 a.m. BST start in the UK. For those watching in Australia, it’s a 10 a.m. AEST kickoff on Tuesday.
How to watch the 2026 World Cup using a VPN for free
If you’re traveling abroad and want to keep up with all the World Cup action while away from home, a VPN can help enhance your privacy and security when streaming.
It encrypts your traffic and prevents your internet service provider from throttling your speeds. Additionally, it can be helpful when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks while traveling, providing an extra layer of protection for your devices and logins. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and can be used for legitimate purposes such as improving online privacy and security
Read more: You Can Stream Every FIFA 2026 World Cup Match With a VPN. Here’s How
However, some streaming services may have policies restricting VPN use to access region-specific content. If you’re considering a VPN for streaming, check the platform’s terms of service to ensure compliance.
If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider’s installation instructions to ensure you’re connected securely and in compliance with applicable laws and service agreements. Some streaming platforms may block access when a VPN is detected, so verifying if your streaming subscription allows VPN use is crucial
ExpressVPN
Best VPN for streaming
2025
Price$78 for two yearsLatest TestsNo DNS leaks detected, 18% speed loss in 2025 testsJurisdictionBritish Virgin IslandsNetwork3,000 plus servers in 105 countries
ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It’s normally $120 a year for its most popular plan (Advanced), but if you sign up for an annual subscription right now, you’ll save $45
73% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months). Now only $3.49/month
Livestream USA vs. Belgium in the US in English
Exclusive English live broadcast rights for every World Cup 2026 match are with Fox, with games set to be shown on Fox and FS1. This Round of 16 match will be shown on Fox.
The cheapest option for most cord-cutters will be the Fox One streaming app, which will carry each match
If you don’t have access to either channel in your cable lineup, there are several online alternatives. A number of the major live TV streaming services, such as YouTube TV, DirecTV and Hulu Plus Live TV, carry both Fox and FS1
Fox One: $20 per month
Carries every 2026 World Cup match
Fox’s direct-to-consumer streaming service launched in August last year. Fox One starts at $20 a month or $200 a year and gives you access to Fox’s complete TV portfolio, including sports-related channels such as Fox Deportes, Fox Sports, B1G, FS1, FS2 and local Fox stations. New subscribers can get a three-day free trial
Fubo
Carries Fox and FS1
You can watch Fox and FS1 on Fuboh local channels you get in your region with Fubo. Read our Fubo review
YouTube TV
Carries Fox and FS1
For $83 a month, YouTube TV’s standard plan will get you Fox and FS1 along with a wide array of other channels
Plug in your ZIP code on YouTube TV’s welcome page to see which local networks are available in your area
DirecTV MySports
Carries Fox and FS1
DirecTV’s MySports genre package includes access to both channels. New subscribers can sign up and access it for free for 5 days, then the price is $50 a month for the first two months. After that, the price reverts to its normal rate of $65 per month
Livestream USA vs. Belgium in the US with Spanish commentary
Spanish-language broadcast rights in the US are with NBCUniversal: Telemundo, which will show 92 games, and the remaining 12 will be broadcast on Universo. Both channels are available to stream on Peacock, with the service offering Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos sound. This match will be shown on Telemundo.
Peacock
Carries Spanish-language coverage of the World Cup
Peacock currently costs $11 per month for the ad-supported Peacock Premium plan and $17 per month for the ad-free Peacock Premium Plus plan. Watch all the action from Telemundo and Universo on the platform
Livestream USA vs. Belgium in the UK for free
Free-to-air networks BBC and ITV are once again sharing broadcasting duties for the World Cup, with this match set to be shown on BBC1. The match will also be available to stream on BBC iPlayer. Coverage begins at 12:40 a.m. BST, with the matching kicking off at 1 a.m. BST in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
BBC
Watch the 2026 World Cup in the UK for free
You’ll be able to watch the game online for free
With an app that’s available for Android and Apple mobile devices, as well as a vast array of smart TVs and streaming boxes, all you need is a valid UK TV license to stream the game
Livestream USA vs. Belgium in Australia for free
It’s great news for soccer fans Down Under: Every match of the 2026 World Cup will be broadcast free on SBS in Australia.
SBS
Carries the 2026 World Cup in Australia
Viewers can livestream World Cup coverage on the free-to-use SBS On Demand service
The platform has dedicated apps for Android and iOS, and you can also access the service on Android TV, Amazon Fire TV stick, Apple TV and most smart TVs
Livestream USA vs. Belgium in Canada
Broadcast rights for this summer’s World Cup in Canada are with Bell Media, which will air matches in English on TSN and CTV, and in French on RDS. That also means coverage will be available on the TSN Plus streaming platform.
TSN Plus
Carries World Cup matches live
TSN Plus is a streaming service that costs CA$8 a month and also offers coverage of PGA Tour Live golf, NFL games, F1, Nascar and the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments
