FT · World: World Cup · Tuesday, 07 July 2026

United States 14 BelgiumMatch recap & Bawler model verdict · Tuesday, 07 July 2026

United States
14
Belgium win
Belgium
> 🧠 Model verdict
✗ Result against the lean

Pre-match, Bawler had United States at 37%, draw at 31%, Belgium at 31%. Against expectation, the match finished 1-4. The model's headline call was United States to win.

> Pre-match probability vs result
States win
37%
Draw
31%
Belgium win
31%
Actual ✓
> Expected vs actual goals
Model expected (xG)
1.461.33
Total 2.79
Actual
14
Total 5 (+2.2 vs xG)

Match overperformed xG by 2.2 goals. Above-expectation scoring — could be finishing, set-piece luck, or genuine attacking quality the model under-rated.

> 🧾 What the model called · and how it landed
High confidence
Over 1.5 Goals
Pre-match: 81%
✓ Won
Medium confidence
1X
Pre-match: 71%
✗ Lost
Outside shot
Over 3.5 Goals
Pre-match: 26%
✓ Won
> What we said pre-match
"Over 1.5 Goals projects at 81% probability because combined xG of 2.79 and even win odds (37% US, 31% Belgium) signal a fixture built for multiple goals despite the tight quality gap."

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