- Belgium have the U.S. Men's National Team on the back foot - taking nine shots compared to just three for the Americans in the first half
- Some 20,000 fans are show up at Soldier Field - Chicago's NFL stadium - to watch World Cup soccer
- This year's tournament has fetched record TV ratings across the U.S. - including 25million viewers for the USA-Portugal match
- The Yanks are a 5-2 underdog against a Belgium team packed with stars
- American striker Jozy Altidore is available for the game
- Starting XI for the Yanks are: Howard; Johnson, González, Besler, Beasley; Cameron, Jones; Bedoya, Bradley, Zusi; Dempsey - Altidore and Kyle Beckerman will not start
World Cup dreams have ended for the U.S. Men's National Team after a heartbreaking 1-2 loss to Belgium in extra time.
The thrilling match was capped off by a late rally by the Yanks, down 0-2 - including a goal by 19-year-old Julian Green in the 106th minute. But, at the end of 120 nail-biting minutes, their late-game heroics were not enough. Belgium advances to the quarterfinals. The Americans go home.
The USA nearly hung on, despite a Belgian onslaught that saw 39 shots - 17 of them on goal. Herculean Tim Howard kept the Americans in the game with an incredible 16 saves - the most ever in a single World Cup match.
Despite 90 minutes of impressive futility at the goal, the Belgians took the lead in extra time after Kevin De Bruyne finally caught Howard in the open and found a way to shoot the ball past him in the 93rd minute.
The second Red Devils goal came off the foot of Romelu Lukaku in the 105th minute.
At 106 minutes, Green - World Cup rookie - brought the Yanks back within one with an increduible goal after a flawless pass from midfielder Michael Bradley.
In cities around the country, hundreds of thousands of fans gathered in city squares, arenas and public parks to watch the match together.
Up to 20,000 fans showed up at Soldier Field - Chicago's NFL stadium - to see a game that the rest of the world knows as football. Hundreds camped out in Bryant Park and under the Manhattan Bridge in New York City, where the match was shown for free. Officials at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas - the heart of football country expected 5,000 fans to watch the match there. Instead, 10,000 showed up.
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Shot heard round the world: Tim Howard finally missed a save in the 93rd minute when Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne found the net and took the lead
U.S. players on the bench react after watching a missed chance to score in the USMNT gallant defeat at the hands of Belgium
The end: Devastated USA fans deflate after watching the Belgians score two un-answered goals in extra time
Nerve-wracking: USA fans endured 31 shots - 11 on goal during the 90-minute regular time of the match
USA fans cheer before a Round of 16 football match between Belgium and USA at Fonte Nova Arena in Salvador
USA fans were in no short supply in Salvador, Brazil. The Associated Press reports that they outnumbered Belgium supporters 3-to-1
The USA nearly won the match outright in the 89th minute, but Chris Wondolowski missed a wide open goal. The miss ensured a 0-0 tie at the end of 90 minutes.
Belgian striker Divock Origi almost scored less than 40 seconds after the start of the match, but the shot was blocked by goalkeeper Tim Howard.
At 80 minutes, Belgium have made 24 shots compared to six for the Americans. Howard has been a hero of the match, making seven saves - including one-on-one against Divock Origi at 75 minutes.
The Yanks seriously threatened once in the first half, at the 21-minute mark, when midfielder Michael Bradley cleared a path and passed to Clint Dempsey, but the shot was saved by the Belgian goaltender. It was one of only three shots the USA made in the half.
Millions more have found seats in bars, restaurants and cafes across the nation. Undoubtedly, many who could get off work are sneaking glances at the game on TVs, online live streams or score updates on their phones.
The Yanks are fighting for their lives on the world stage. Belgium, which has been seen as a dark horse to win the Cup this year, is rated as a 5-2 favorite in the match.
American defender Geoff Cameron was given a yellow card at the 18 minute mark after a collision with Dries Merten. Belgian Vincent Kompany was given a yellow at 42 minutes for a late hit on Dempsey.
Right back Fabian Johnson had to be pulled from the game at 32 minutes with a hamstring injury. He was replaced with DeAndre Yedlin - who immediately showed off incredible speed on the pitch.
USA Coach Jürgen Klinsmann offered some surprises in the starting lineup. Striker Jozy Altidore, who is available to play for the first time since he left with an injury early in the Yanks' first World Cup match, will be on the bench. Kyle Beckerman, who has played well thus far, did not start.
In the group stage, the U.S. won, tied and then lost - and slipped into the round of 16 based on goal differential. A loss now means a plane trip home.
More than 14million viewers tuned in for last Thursday's USA-Germany match, which was broadcast at noon EDT, making it the second highest-rated soccer match in U.S. history. The highest-ever ratings came June 22, a Sunday night game, when the Americans tied Portugal. An estimated 24.7million viewers watched on ESPN and Univision.
Some 20,000 Chicagoans braved the heat and humidity to cheer for the Yanks at Soldier Field
President Barack Obama took time out of his busy schedule to watch the match with White House staffers in the South Court Auditorium
At At&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys, organizers expected 5,000 people to show up to watch the game on the big screen. More than 10,000 came
At CenturyLink Field in Seattle, home of the Seattle Seahawks and Sounders FC MLS team - thousands gathered to watch the Yanks together
He believes: Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck traveled to Salvador, Brazil with his family to cheer on the USMNT against Belgium
Americans - and their painted faces - flooded Brazil on Tuesday to cheer on their team. The fan on the left is pictured outside the US match in Salvador. The fan on the right was spotted in Rio de Janeiro
The team knows the eyes of the United States will be on them from thousands of miles away, and they say they are ready.
The Americans try to reach the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2002.
'For some of the guys, it's the last opportunity, so we have to make the most of it,' U.S. captain Clint Dempsey said. 'And I'm sure if we play to the best of our ability, we'll get a positive result.'
There were two bits of news on the eve of the match. Striker Jozy Altidore has recovered sufficiently from his left hamstring strain to be available, although it appears he is unlikely to start. The forward has not played since the Americans' June 16 opener, when he was taken off on a stretcher during the first half.
'Just having him with us s huge,' U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said Monday, adding Altidore's time on the field depends on 'how much work is in his legs.'
Proud to be an American: These USA soccer fans were already revved up more than an hour before the match even began
They believe: Thousands of fans filled Soldier Field in Chicago to watch the USMNT's do-or-die match against Belgium
Hundreds of fans gathered outside American Airlines Center, home of the city's NBA and NHL teams, to reserve a spot at the city's public viewing party
Up to 20,000 soccer fans are expected to flood Soldier Field in Chicago to watch futbol in the football stadium
Fans adorned with stars and stripes filled Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday to watch the USMNT face off against the Belgian Red Devils
Good news: Jozy Altidore (left) America's striker, is back in action after injuring his hamstring in the USA-Ghana match. However, he will not be starting
Belgium and the USA face off in Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, in northeastern Brazil. The stadium, built in 2013, seats 55,000 people
Klinsmann created a stir by saying he isn't happy with FIFA's choice of referee, Algeria's Djamel Haimoudi. His nation was eliminated by the U.S. in 2010, and Algeria played in the same first-round group as Belgium.
'Is it a good feeling? No,' Klinsmann said at a news conference.
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots dismissed Klinsmann's comments, saying: 'If we start going into this, it is looking for excuses ahead of the match.'
The United States and Belgium haven't played each other in the World Cup since the first tournament in 1930, a 3-0 win by the Americans.
A lot more people are following now. The U.S. averaged more than 18 million viewers on ESPN and Spanish-language Univision for its three first-round games, and viewing parties are scheduled for Tuesday ranging from Solider Field in Chicago to Veteran's Park in Redondo Beach, California.
'The country is paying attention in a way that it's never done before, and we have a chance to make some history,' U.S. Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati said.
President Barack Obama even watched last week from Air Force One.
A victory against Belgium would put the U.S. in a Saturday quarterfinal against Argentina or Switzerland. With kickoff at 4pm EDT, people are expected to leave work early, take extended lunch breaks and sneak looks at online streams from their mobile phones and office desktops.
'It means a lot to us, the energy that comes from the United States,' said Klinsmann, the former German star striker who moved to California in 1998. 'You see where the game is going in the United States. You can't stop it anymore. It's breaking through.'
Up to 20,000 Chicago soccer fans poured into Soldier Field in Chicago to watch the match on a giant screen
His priorities are straight: Despite having checked into rehab, Robin Williams - who played President Teddy Roosevelt on film - tweeted this picture of one of the Yanks' most visible fans - who also dresses as the 26th president
Fans turned out in red, white and blue to show their support for the Yanks against the Red Devils
Getting read: A fan drapes himself in an American flag in Salvador, Brazil, ahead of the match Tuesday afternoon
This is the USMNT's locker room in Salvador, Brazil, where the team will be playing today
Gearing up: The USMNT took at the pitch at 4pm EDT to face off against the Belgium in the Round of 16
Devoted: This fan painted the USMNT's fan-favorite chant on his shaved head
Getting ready: Tim Howard, the star goalkeeper who has kept the Yanks alive through the tournament, warms up before the match Tuesday
The 13th-ranked Americans are in the knockout rounds of consecutive World Cups for the first time. Belgium, ranked 11th after missing the last two World Cups, has won three straight games at soccer's showcase for the first time.
But the Red Devils are banged up. Central defender Vincent Kompany (strained left groin) is questionable and left back Thomas Vermaelen (right hamstring) is out. Midfielders Moussa Dembele and Marouane Fellaini - known for his mop of bushy dark hair - have been slowed by calf injuries.
Fellaini is a former Everton teammate of American goalkeeper Tim Howard, who played with Belgian forwards Romelu Lukaku and Kevin Mirallas last season. Howard is also familiar with Eden Hazard, who was criticized for his play during the first round despite setting up go-ahead goals against Russia and Algeria.
'Probably one of the best players in the Premier League,' Howard said. 'He's shifty. He's crafty. He's everything you want in a winner.'
Dempsey, 31, and 32-year-old defender DaMarcus Beasley are unlikely to be on the 2018 roster. Howard, 35, hasn't committed to another four-year cycle.
Coach Juergen Klinsmann (center) gives his players a pep talk during training on Monday
'I'm not at all sure it's his last World Cup,' Gulati said.
Belgium is quite familiar with Klinsmann: He scored in Germany's 3-2 win over Belgium at Chicago's Soldier Field in the second round of the 1994 World Cup.
Klinsmann and Wilmots are friends, too. They had scheduled a training session between the teams June 12, but Wilmots called it off because he didn't want to get caught in Sao Paulo's traffic jams.
Last year, Belgium overwhelmed the U.S. 4-2 in an exhibition at Cleveland. But friendlies are different.
The Americans know they have to boost their offense, which was next to last in attacks during the first round.
'It's all about who wants it more,' Beasley said. 'You can't leave anything on the field for these type of games.'
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