USA vs Belgium ticket prices drop 27% as Balogun ban lifted before World Cup last-16 clash
Ticket prices for the USA-Belgium World Cup last-16 clash have fallen 27% in three days, while FIFA's last-minute clearance of striker Folarin Balogun adds controversy to Monday's showdown in Seattle.
Ticket prices slide ahead of Seattle showdown
The get-in price for Monday's USA-Belgium round of 16 match at Lumen Field dropped to $1,508 as of 1pm ET, a 27% decline over three days, according to TicketData.com. After spiking to $3,115 when the matchup was set on July 1, the price fell as low as $1,283 on Sunday morning before rebounding to $1,788 later that day and then dipping again Monday. The trend mirrors broader declines across the round of 16, where the average get-in price has fallen 3% in three days and 8% over the past week. England's win over Mexico in Mexico City commanded $3,820, while Switzerland-Colombia in Vancouver now has the lowest get-in at $719.
- USA vs Belgium
- 1508 $
- England vs Mexico
- 3820 $
- Argentina vs Egypt
- 1378 $
- Switzerland vs Colombia
- 719 $
- Portugal vs Spain
- 1311 $
- 2026-07-01
- 3115 $
- 2026-07-05 morning
- 1283 $
- 2026-07-05 evening
- 1788 $
- 2026-07-06 1pm ET
- 1508 $
Balogun cleared after FIFA lifts suspension
The U.S. received a significant boost when FIFA suspended the one-match ban for striker Folarin Balogun, who had been sent off in the round of 32 against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Belgian federation said it was "astonished" by the decision. Head coach Rudi Garcia told reporters:
Balogun, the team's leading scorer in the tournament, is now available for the biggest U.S. match since the 2014 round of 16, when Tim Howard's record 16 saves could not prevent a 2-1 extra-time loss to Belgium.We're not defending the national team or federation, we are defending football.
Iberian derby opens the day
Earlier, Portugal face Spain at AT&T Stadium in Arlington (3pm ET) in a matchup that could be Cristiano Ronaldo's final World Cup appearance. Spain, yet to concede a goal in the tournament, are favorites after a 3-0 win over Austria, with Lamine Yamal's dribbling threat growing. Portugal have struggled for consistency, needing a 94th-minute winner from Gonçalo Ramos to edge Croatia. Opta's supercomputer gives Spain a 49.2% chance to win in normal time, compared to 25.6% for Portugal.
'Country Roads' becomes USMNT anthem
After each U.S. victory, players line up before their supporters as John Denver's 1971 hit "Take Me Home, Country Roads" plays over the stadium speakers. Songwriter Bill Danoff, 79, said:
U.S. star Christian Pulisic added:I think it's just terrific. Who would've thought, this thing that came out of a dirty, old hippie apartment in Georgetown would be inspiring a soccer team?
I can't explain -- it just gives you chills.
