Fired-up Belgium brought the United States’ World Cup party to a shuddering halt on Tuesday morning, thrashing the tournament co-hosts 4-1 to set up a quarter-final showdown with Spain.
Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, Hans Vanaken punished a goalkeeping howler, and substitute Romelu Lukaku added a fourth to settle a last-16 clash that had been overshadowed by the pre-match uproar surrounding US striker Folarin Balogun.
Balogun, named in US coach Mauricio Pochettino’s starting line-up after FIFA suspended a one-game ban following lobbying by US President Donald Trump, was largely anonymous throughout Monday’s knockout tie at Seattle’s Lumen Field.
ALSO READ: USA striker Folarin Balogun cleared to face Belgium after FIFA suspends one-match ban
Instead, a rampant Belgium ruthlessly dismantled the USA’s hopes of reaching a first World Cup quarter-final in 24 years, in a bitterly disappointing end to a campaign that had captivated the host nation.
Belgium captain Youri Tielemans said the furore over Balogun had motivated his team-mates.
“Let’s be honest: we held a meeting when we heard the news,” Tielemans said.
“We told ourselves we needed to do our talking on the pitch. That’s what we did today. I’m very proud of the team,” the Aston Villa midfielder told Belgium’s RTBF broadcaster.
US coach Pochettino said his team had not turned up on the day.
“Today we were not the same team that we have been during the tournament,” Pochettino said. “It was a very bad day — it wasn’t our day in a collective and individual way.”
De Ketelaere fired Belgium ahead after nine minutes, and although Malik Tillman’s deflected free-kick leveled it in the 31st-minute, the US fightback was shortlived.
De Ketelaere headed Belgium back in front in the 33rd minute, and Vanaken made it 3-1 in the 57th minute after a dreadful blunder by US goalkeeper Matt Freese, who was dispossessed after charging out of his penalty area to clear.
Veteran striker Lukaku piled on the misery with a fourth in stoppage time.
The defeat capped a tumultuous 24 hours for the World Cup co-hosts, who were lifted by FIFA’s shock reprieve of Balogun on Sunday — a decision which brought widespread condemnation across the football world.
Belgium football chiefs had challenged Balogun’s eligibility for the game earlier on Monday but saw their appeal dismissed out of hand by FIFA.
“There was a sense of injustice within the squad,” Belgium’s Nicolas Raskin said. “We were determined to respond on the field.”
The Belgians advance to a quarter-final meeting with Spain in Los Angeles on Friday.
The Spaniards booked their place in that game with a 1-0 victory over Portugal in the final World Cup match of Cristiano Ronaldo’s career.
Spanish substitute Mikel Merino coolly slotted the winner in the first minute of stoppage time to seal victory in a dour contest between the Iberian football rivals at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Read more about other World Cup teams in 2026 below:
Morocco national football team 2026
Argentina national football team 2026
Mexico national football team 2026
Spain national football team 2026
Brazil national football team 2026
France national football team 2026
Senegal national football team 2026