A New Milestone for the USMNT
The U.S. Men's National Team (USMNT) is venturing into rare territory as they prepare for the World Cup knockout rounds, a stage the program has not visited frequently. Following a solid 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina this past Wednesday, the squad now looks ahead to a critical Round of 16 clash against Belgium, scheduled for July 6 in Seattle.
Betting Outlook and Odds
Market analysts have positioned the United States as the favorite for the upcoming match. BetMGM opened the lines with the U.S. as a -120 favorite to advance, compared to Belgium at -105. For the three-way outcome, the odds currently sit at +150 for a U.S. win, +170 for Belgium, and +240 for a potential draw.
The betting enthusiasm surrounding the team remains high. According to data from various sportsbooks, the public has heavily backed the U.S. throughout the tournament, with significant financial volume directed toward the squad in nearly every match they have played.
The Balogun Absence
The U.S. path to the quarterfinals is complicated by the forced absence of star forward Folarin Balogun. Balogun was issued a controversial red card in the 64th minute of the match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Despite protests regarding the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) decision, the ruling is final and cannot be appealed, meaning the forward will be sidelined for the Belgium fixture.
Public Sentiment and Record-Breaking Interest
The American side has consistently defied sportsbook expectations, consistently drawing the majority of wagers from the public. Mark Bickerdike, head of soccer at Caesars Sportsbook, noted the immense popularity of the team among bettors:
"As we've become accustomed to, the USMNT were extremely popular with our bettors, attracting 91% of handle in the match betting market. In addition, 87% of handle was on Mauricio Pochettino's men in the 'to qualify' market, so it's fair to say we have plenty of happy bettors this evening."
The interest in the previous match was so intense that it set a new record for the highest volume of money wagered on a single soccer game at Caesars Sportsbook.
Looking Toward the Quarterfinals
While Belgium enters the match following a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory against Senegal, the U.S. team is highly motivated. It has been over two decades since the USMNT last reached the quarterfinals, with their last appearance at that stage dating back to 2002. They now stand just one victory away from breaking that long-standing drought.