The tournament the United States had waited years to host on home soil is over for the American men, ended in Seattle on Monday night by a Belgium side that was sharper in front of goal and steadier when it mattered. Belgium won 3-1 to reach the quarterfinals, Yahoo Sports reported.

How the goals came

Belgium struck early. Charles De Ketelaere put his side ahead in the 10th minute, finishing from close range after a cross deflected its way to him, Yahoo Sports reported. The Americans answered in the 31st minute through Malik Tillman, whose free kick found its way past Belgium's goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, to level the match.

The parity lasted barely a minute. De Ketelaere scored again in the 32nd, heading in from close range to restore Belgium's lead and send it into halftime 2-1 up.

The decisive blow came in the 58th minute, and it was self-inflicted. Attempting to clear the ball, Freese miskicked, and the loose ball fell to Hans Vanaken, who finished to make it 3-1. From there Belgium managed the game, and the U.S. could not find a way back.

Balogun starts, Pulisic goes off

The match was played under the cloud of the week's biggest off-field story. Folarin Balogun started for the United States after FIFA reinstated him following the red card that had suspended him, a reversal that came after President Trump publicly said he had asked the governing body to review the call. On the field, Balogun could not change the outcome.

The U.S. also lost Christian Pulisic, its most influential attacker, who was substituted off in the second half; the match report noted his exit without giving a reason, and other outlets reported he appeared to be dealing with a leg problem. Without him, the American attack lost its edge in the closing stages.

Out at the first knockout hurdle

For the United States, the result is a deflating end to a tournament it had hoped would mark the sport's arrival at home. Reaching the round of 16 and then falling there leaves the American program to weigh how far it has really come, with a home Copa-style spotlight now shifted to the teams still standing.

Belgium moves on to Spain

Belgium's reward is a place in the last eight against Spain, which beat Portugal 1-0 earlier Monday to reach its first quarterfinal since winning the 2010 World Cup. For the Americans, the road ends in Seattle; for Belgium, it runs on.