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Belgium knocked the United States out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a decisive 4-1 victory in a Round of 16 match in Seattle. Charles De Ketelaere led the Belgian attack with a brace, while Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku also scored, ending the co-hosts’ tournament run.
Belgium dominated early on, with Charles De Ketelaere opening the scoring in the 9th minute. Malik Tillman equalized for the US in the 31st minute, but De Ketelaere struck again just two minutes later to restore the European side’s lead.
Costly errors in the second half—including a mistake by US goalkeeper Matt Freese allowing a goal from Hans Vanaken—put the game out of reach, before Romelu Lukaku sealed the 4-1 win in stoppage time. As a result, Belgium advances to the quarter-finals to face Spain, while the US exits the tournament.
The match was overshadowed by a political controversy surrounding US striker Folarin Balogun. Balogun had originally received a red card in the previous match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which would have incurred a suspension.
However, after US President Donald Trump intervened and spoke with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, FIFA controversially overturned the one-match ban, allowing Balogun to start. Despite the reprieve, the striker left minimal impact on the game as the Americans were ultimately outclassed.
