SEATTLE: Belgium brought the United States’ World Cup party to a shattering 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 US’ 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.
Kevin De Bruyne, Jeremy Doku and Lukaku were all benched, with De Bruyne, so long the talisman of the team, not even used in the clash in Seattle.
Nicolas Raskin, Amadou Onana and Dodi Lukebakio replaced Hans Vanaken, De Bruyne, and Doku, with De Ketelaere moving to a centre forward role that reaped immediate reward with two first-half goals to set the Belgians on their way to a comfortable victory.
Before kickoff, Garcia said his selections were logical given the players’ training form and tactics for the day, and they worked out perfectly as the Belgians produced their best football of the tournament.
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.
Belgium’s Nicolas Raskin said the perceived injustice had actually motivated Balogun’s opponents.
“I think there was always justice somewhere in life and the fact that something can happen like that ... but we don’t think that was fair,” Raskin said.
US coach Mauricio Pochettino said the row had not affected his team and attributed their poor performance to an off-day against a top side.
“We were not good enough today, we don’t need to find another excuse ... I think it wasn’t a situation that affects us,” he told reporters.
The US defeat means all three co-hosts are out of the tournament, after Canada and Mexico lost their last-16 games.
“In the moments that we were doing well (in the tournament), we felt amazing,” US midfielder Tyler Adams said. “And then obviously, an opportunity like today, we didn’t grasp it and it’s gonna sting.”
Despite their exit, Pochettino said the future was bright for the US squad and the Argentinian coach also suggested he wanted to continue.
“I think now ... it’s (time to) rest a little bit, to think, to have conversations, and then see what the decision is from the federation and from us,” he added. “But I am so happy.”
Published in Dawn, July 8th, 2026