Belgium defeated the United States 4 to 1 in Seattle, ending the host nation’s tournament run and advancing to a quarterfinal matchup against Spain.
Belgium brought the United States’ World Cup campaign to a painful end with a commanding 4 to 1 victory in the round of 16, delivering its strongest performance of the tournament on a night already surrounded by controversy.
The build up had been dominated by FIFA’s decision to allow American striker Folarin Balogun to play despite receiving a red card in the previous round. His suspension was lifted after President Donald Trump contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino and called for the decision to be reviewed. The move drew criticism from UEFA, Belgian officials and figures across international soccer, who questioned whether political pressure had influenced FIFA’s disciplinary process. FIFA maintained that its judicial bodies acted independently.
Once the match began, however, Belgium quickly shifted attention back to the field. The Red Devils attacked from the opening whistle and nearly scored inside the first minute before Charles De Ketelaere gave them the lead in the ninth. The United States responded in the 31st minute when Malik Tillman’s free kick took a deflection and beat goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, briefly bringing the host nation level.
The American celebration lasted only a matter of moments. Belgium immediately regained control as De Ketelaere connected with a cross and headed home his second goal of the night, sending his team into halftime with a 2 to 1 advantage.
U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino changed formation after the break and introduced Giovanni Reyna in an effort to create more attacking pressure, but Belgium remained organized and dangerous. The decisive moment arrived in the 65th minute when American goalkeeper Matt Freese rushed far from his goal but hesitated while attempting to deal with a long pass. De Ketelaere won possession, allowing Hans Vanaken to score into the largely unprotected net from distance.
That mistake effectively ended the United States’ hopes of a comeback. Belgium controlled the closing stages and added a fourth goal in stoppage time when Romelu Lukaku capitalized on another defensive error and finished calmly.
Balogun, whose eligibility had generated intense debate before kickoff, struggled to influence the game. His best opportunity came late in the second half, but Courtois stopped his shot. The forward finished the tournament with three goals, though his reinstatement is likely to remain one of the most controversial stories of the competition.
Spanish newspaper Marca described Belgium’s victory with a play on words combining Trump’s name with the Spanish word “trampas,” meaning tricks or schemes. The suggestion was that Belgium had defeated both the United States and the controversy surrounding FIFA’s decision.
The result eliminated the third host nation from the tournament after Canada and Mexico had already been knocked out. Belgium reached the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2018 and will now face Spain for a place in the semifinals.
