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FIRED-UP BELGIUM brought the United States’ World Cup party to a shuddering halt on Monday, 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.
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 levelled it in the 31st-minute, the US fightback was short lived.
🇺🇸 0-1 🇧🇪
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 7, 2026
Silence in Seattle as Belgium take advantage of their bright start through Charles De Ketelaere who finishes from close range
Watch all 104 games from the #FIFAWorldCup on RTÉ pic.twitter.com/A8zIZP3d96
🇺🇸 1-1 🇧🇪
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 7, 2026
Against the run of play, the United States restore parity through a deflected Malik Tillman free-kick
Watch all 104 games from the #FIFAWorldCup on RTÉ pic.twitter.com/abNnxMS4Pr
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.
🇺🇸 1-2 🇧🇪
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 7, 2026
To Mauricio Pochettino's frustration, the Belgium response is instant as Leandro Trossard's cross finds that man Charles De Ketelaere who rises highest to head his side back in front
Watch all 104 games from the #FIFAWorldCup on RTÉ pic.twitter.com/NmGjS2Cr7T
🇺🇸 1-3 🇧🇪
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 7, 2026
Calamity at the back for the United States as Matt Freese's pocket is picked and Hans Vanaken slots into the empty net from distance
Watch all 104 games from the #FIFAWorldCup on RTÉ pic.twitter.com/O53C65JtMX
Veteran striker Lukaku piled on the misery with a fourth in stoppage time.
Full-Time: 🇺🇸 1-4 🇧🇪
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 7, 2026
Romelu Lukaku gets in on the act to make it three goals in his last three
The United States crash out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Belgium progress to a quarter-final clash with Spain on Friday
Watch all 104 games from the #FIFAWorldCup on RTÉ pic.twitter.com/r4uJPSjGH5
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.
Written by AFP and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.
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