USMNT return to Seattle for Biggest World Cup Match EVER

USMNT return to Seattle for Biggest World Cup Match EVER

From Lobbing Scorchers by Ari Liljenwall & Noah Riffe

July 3, 2026 · 1h 32m

About this episode

Ari Liljenwall and Noah Riffe discuss the USMNT's crucial World Cup match against Belgium, analyzing player impacts and match strategies.

Lobbing Scorchers, Ari Liljenwall and Noah Riffe get ready for the biggest match Seattle has hosted at this World Cup so far: the USMNT returning to Lumen Field for a Round of 16 rematch with Belgium and a place in the quarterfinals on the line. But how much does losing Folarin Balogun to a non-appealable red card suspension actually hurt the American attack? And is Belgium the beatable opponent everyone is making them out to be after nearly dropping their group stage match to Senegal? Lobbing Scorchers digs into the state of the USMNT attack heading into Belgium. Can Malik Tillman, Christian Pulisic and company carry the load without Balogun leading the line? Should the US roll with Ricardo Pepi or Haji Wright as the replacement striker? And are fans and pundits fairly reassessing Belgium, or are we overcorrecting because the USMNT finally showed it could handle some adversity against Bosnia? Ari and Noah round out the show with a Yellow Card or Red Card game reviewing the tournament's most questionable moments so far, including Iran's ongoing World Cup issues, cooling breaks, New York hosting the final, the USA Country Roads goal celebration, pitch invaders holding crypto…

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