FIFA World Cup/Team USA

 Even with Folarin Balogun back up front, the United States men’s national team crashed out of the World Cup in the round of 16 again.  It was a meek ending to a monthlong surge for the U.S., as Belgium dominated the Americans — and silenced a once-raucous crowd at Lumen Field — in Monday’s 4-1 defeat.  It was the fourth time in the past five World Cups that the Americans exited at this stage; the only exception was in 2018, when they did not qualify.  Belgium also sent the U.S. home from the 2014 World Cup, but that contest, which went to extra time, felt much closer than this one.  Belgium play 2010 champion Spain on Friday at Inglewood, California, for a semifinal berth against France or Morocco.