Kevin De Bruyne left on bench for Belgium vs USA

sportsJul 7, 202663629

Belgium opened their World Cup Round of 16 tie with the United States on July 6, 2026 without Kevin De Bruyne in the starting XI, a selection World Soccer Talk flagged as a surprise. Coach Rudi Garcia also kept Jérémy Doku out of the lineup, while the USMNT started Folarin Balogun. Belgium defeated the United States 4-1, eliminating the Americans and sending Belgium into the quarterfinals. Fans and commentators noted the benching as unexpected given De Bruyne’s profile, and several reports and lineup posts confirmed De Bruyne and Doku began the match on the bench. The decision drew particular attention because Belgium still produced a comprehensive win without their high-profile starter. The match outcome ends the United States’ run at the tournament and advances Belgium to the next round.

Chris Pomfret

@chrispomfret.bsky.social

You bloody beautiful things Belgium! BEL 4 - USA 1 USA out! #FuckTrump #BELvUSA #USAvBEL

503h ago

Quoting this

GFellJones2

How absolutely wonderful to see Belgium reign supreme over the cheaters.

Jeff Rueter

@jeffrueter.bsky.social

The official lineups have confirmed a shocker: Belgium will kick off with Jérémy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne on the bench. Oh, and Folarin Balogun starts for the USA.

It's a cute graphic from Belgium, but a nightmare to read.
Right to left!
Courtois
Castagne - Ngoy - Mechele - De Cuyper
Raskin - Onana - Tielemans (c)
Lukebakio - De Ketelaere - Trossard

367h ago

Jeff Rueter26

No doubt, Rudi Garcia will justify the changes as keeping Doku and De Bruyne fresh for the possibility of extra-time and penalties, which Belgium would struggle to fare well in without their star men. Then again, the USMNT has been out of the gates throughout this World Cup. Quite a risk!

bcmcdowell1

Is Belgium banking on Flo getting carded again and then they'll super sub those two?

Quoting this

Jack Jenkins17

I will say: If Belgium comes out without their stars and immediately rocks the USMNT anyway, all the drama surrounding Balogun is gonna hit different. Unless Belgium gets rocked instead, in which case they're gonna look *real* dumb.

DolphinsTalk Josh2

This is WILD! Belgium going for it!

The Athletic

@theathletic.com

Folarin Balogun starts for the USMNT against Belgium, while Rudi Garcia has benched both Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne 👀 The latest from Seattle ahead of the Americans' last-16 clash: nyti.ms/3SLNxUM

286h ago

Mourn the Weenie3

This august publication having put to type that cheating is only fair play because it's the United States and fuck all decorum and rules, I hope your fucking team loses by a lot, because fuck your simping for that monstrous motherfucker. Fuck you.

Will2

US team should sit him for first half.

Mina1

If Folarin would have accepted his suspension like a man, Americans would have been proud of the team.

billbre.bsky.social1

Donald Trump hijacked the 250 year celebration. Now he has Hijacked the World Cup. He took all the fun out of it and made it about him.

Steve J1

Trump fks up everything !! He’s trash

Jeff Fletcher 1

Only thing to avoid as an asterisk was to sit Balogun. Now there was always be a what if

Jason Anderson

@jasondcsoccer.bsky.social

Dropping De Bruyne and Vanaken is a real "we can't be this slow" from Rudi Garcia. They don't want to get run off the field early, and then hope to use their best passers once the spaces will be a bit bigger due to fatigue. Benching Doku, a little less explicable.

286h ago

Jeff Carlisle

@jeffreycarlisle.bsky.social

Didn't notice this at first, but both Jeremy Doku and Kevin De Bruyne start the game on the bench for Belgium. 😳 #usmnt

306h ago

Jeff Carlisle10

I get that Belgium's comeback against Senegal happened without either Doku or De Bruyne but still...

Limo Wreck1

The US will counter with Reyna, Roldan 💪, and Berhalter.

dccapitalusa1

Going with youth I guess. Probably smart.

Jonathan Tannenwald

@jtannenwald.bsky.social

Lineups are out. Folarin Balogun starts for the #USMNT, to no surprise Balogun Pulisic McKennie Dest Adams Tillman A. Robinson Ream Richards Freeman Freese Surprises with Belgium: Kevin de Bruyne and Jérémy Doku are on the bench.

207h ago

Quoting this

Jonathan Tannenwald13

Cristian Roldan is officially unavailable due to injury, by the way. He will not get to play in the World Cup in Seattle, alas.

Not the Guy 9

they’re not playing respect the imaginary rules that got overturned balll

Mike

@bikeymikey70.bsky.social

And in the words of the 12th man’s Bill Lawry “Got him, gone, fuck off, you’re out of here” #FIFA #USAvBEL

193h ago

Pardeep Cattry

@pcattry.bsky.social

Just kidding - lineups are out now! #USMNT go unchanged from the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, which means Folarin Balogun does start; Belgium, meanwhile, have both Kevin de Bruyne and Jeremy Doku on the bench

177h ago

David Gass

@empiregass.bsky.social

De Bruyne officially benched. This USMNT game is a whole new era for the Red Devils

207h ago

Steven Goff

@stevengoff.bsky.social

Belgium: Courtois; Mechele, De Cuyper, Castagne, Ngoy, Tielemans, Raskin, Onana, Trossard, Lukebakio, De Ketelaere. De Bruyne, Doku and Lukaku on the bench.

187h ago

Quoting this

Grace Robertson 🏳️‍⚧️34

As a lifelong Belgium fan, this is simply unacceptable

Peter Berkes7

Look I still suspect Belgium advance tonight if you push me for an answer but I am not entirely sure what Rudi Garcia is doing here. Fine by me!

josh6

are they trying to lose???

alex3

this makes sense, everyone knows you save your best players for the quarterfinals

ellen teapot 🇨🇦🏳️‍⚧️3

Holy shit, they got Count Dooku? #WorldCup

Matt Lichtenstadter3

Lost in all of the nonsense about Balogun and FIFA, etc. is that Rudi Garcia has clearly lost his marbles (not that their performance against Senegal didn't already show this but whatever)

newmethos2

Uh, wut. KDB and Lukaku on the bench actually makes sense (they old, bruv), but Doku is the baffling choice

Joey Gulino2

Everyone who watched the last game knows this might actually be worse for the USMNT. We'll see how the fellas handle it

cata

@catabush.com

De Bruyne honoring the sounders by coming on as a second half sub, just like he did in that 2012 friendly when Chelsea played at CenturyLink

206h ago

Paul Tenorio

@paultenorio.bsky.social

Folarin Balogun is starting for the #USMNT tonight. (Same lineup as opener and Bosnia.) Kevin De Bruyne and Doku both on the bench for Belgium. www.nytimes.com/athletic/liv...

137h ago

Joseph Lowery

@joeclowery.bsky.social

We’re getting the USMNT’s best lineup, Balogun included. No Doku or De Bruyne in Belgium’s lineup after Rudi Garcia yanked them both early against Senegal. Bizarre choice from the Belgium manager. 🇺🇸🇧🇪

167h ago

Ben Wright

@benwright.bsky.social

🇺🇸 Flo Balogun gets the start for the USMNT! 🇧🇪 No Jeremy Doku, Kevin De Bruyne, or Romelu Lukaku in the XI for Belgium

137h ago

Michael Caley

@michaelcaley.bsky.social

obviously there's a lot of newsier stuff in the US with these lineups but Garcia benching De Bruyne and Doku is.... something else we had some premonitions on a recent @doublepivotpodcast.bsky.social

146h ago

2 sources

footballcountry.comWhy isn’t Kevin De Bruyne starting for Belgium against the USMNT at the 2026 World Cup?ussoccer.comUSMNT vs Belgium - 7/6/26

Trump called FIFA over Balogun red-card suspension, president sayssports Supporters invoke 'Ball don't lie' after USA exitsports Kevin De Bruyne left on bench for Belgium vs USAsports Charles De Ketelaere scores brace vs USAsports

Kevin De Bruyne left on bench for Belgium vs USA

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