Belgium eliminated the United States from the FIFA Men's World Cup with a 4-1 victory on Monday at Seattle Stadium.
The defeat ended the host country's tournament run before a crowd of 66,925 fans.
>>> USMNT Eliminated from World Cup After 4-1 Loss to Belgium Amid Balogun Controversy
The U. S.
squad was knocked out of the tournament, while Belgium advanced to the quarterfinals. They will face Spain this Friday.
The match concluded Seattle's tenure as a host city for this World Cup cycle.
Local officials hope the city's presentation will support a future bid for the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup.
Fan Reactions
United States supporters expressed a mixture of disappointment and appreciation. "It's a bummer, but this was an awesome experience," said U.
S. fan Patrick Dailey.
Dailey said he would gladly attend another tournament match. "I'd do it again, no question."
Another American supporter from Dallas praised the host city's infrastructure. "This downtown is as incredible as any place in the world," said Bob Hultz.
Fans traveled from across the country to see the U. S.
team's two appearances in Seattle. A group of brothers from New Mexico attended.
Local residents invested heavily to secure seats.
>>> Roddick Backs Pegula to Beat Gauff in Wimbledon Quarterfinal
"It's the biggest sports event in Seattle since '79, when the Sonics won the NBA championship," said Seattle resident Rob Thal.
Thal noted the historic nature of the game justified high ticket prices. "And I wasn't around for that."
