In a stunning display of football prowess, Belgium triumphed over the United States with a decisive 4-1 victory in the Round of 16 at the 2026 FIFA World Cup held in Seattle.
The match, which followed a backdrop of controversy surrounding FIFA’s decision to lift Folarin Balogun’s suspension, became a focal point for discussions about both FIFA and US President Donald Trump.
Pre-match conversations were heavily influenced by the backlash against FIFA’s ruling, which many speculated was influenced by President Trump’s involvement, despite FIFA’s claims of an independent disciplinary process.
On the field, Belgium showcased their dominance from the outset.
Charles De Ketelaere emerged as the standout player, netting two goals and assisting another.
He opened the scoring early in the match before Malik Tillman equalized for the US with a deflected free-kick.
However, Belgium swiftly regained the lead when De Ketelaere headed in a cross from Leandro Trossard.
The Red Devils extended their advantage after halftime when Hans Vanaken took advantage of a blunder by US goalkeeper Matt Freese, making it 3-1.
In stoppage time, substitute Romelu Lukaku capped off the scoring, capitalizing on another defensive error to secure a comprehensive win.
Post-match celebrations saw several Belgian players parody President Trump’s signature dance move, a gesture that quickly garnered attention across social media platforms.
Belgium’s official account on X (formerly Twitter) joined in the festivities, posting a cheeky message directed at FIFA and the United States in response to the suspension overturn: “Overturn this.”
The tweet quickly went viral as Belgium celebrated their significant victory, which not only ended the US’s World Cup journey but also set up an exciting quarter-final clash against Spain.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong