The Belgian national team played its best game at the most crucial moment of the 2026 World Cup. The Red Devils decisively defeated the United States 4-1 in the round of 16 and will now face Spain in the quarterfinals, after delivering a performance that completely transformed the impression they had made during the group stage of the tournament.
The match got off to the worst possible start for the U.S. team. Just nine minutes in, Charles De Ketelaere capitalized on a defensive lapse to open the scoring and give the Europeans the lead; from the opening whistle, they had been applying constant pressure on the team coached by Mauricio Pochettino as it tried to build up play.
Belgium Crushes the United States
Our World Cup journey has come to an end. pic.twitter.com/j8fACE41hv
— U.S. Soccer Men’s National Team (@USMNT) July 7, 2026
Attention was also focused on Folarin Balogun, who returned to the starting lineup after FIFA lifted the suspension that would have kept him out of the match.
However, the forward saw little playing time and never managed to become the offensive leader the United States needed.
The U.S. team found some breathing room in the 31st minute thanks to Malik Tillman, who tied the game after a set piece that deflected off a Belgian defender, catching Thibaut Courtois off guard.
The tie, however, lasted only a couple of minutes.
De Ketelaere stepped up once again to restore Belgium’s lead with a powerful header off a cross from Leandro Trossard, giving the Europeans complete control of the match before halftime.
The mistake that decided the game
MATT FREESE JUST KILLED MY LOVE FOR THE GAME—WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH HIM?
AND THIS OLD FUCK, TIM REAM, CAN’T EVEN COVER FOR HIM WITH A BLOCK
WHAT AN EMBARRASSING PERFORMANCE—ALL THAT GOODWILL AND HYPE WASTED FOR WHAT?! pic.twitter.com/nJ5d75T8WU
— John 🇨🇻 (@YaBoyyyJohn) July 7, 2026
In the second half, as the United States tried to push forward in search of the equalizer, a mistake occurred that ultimately sealed the game’s fate.
Goalkeeper Matt Freese misjudged a long ball, lost possession to De Ketelaere, and Hans Vanaken took advantage of the mistake to score the third goal with a precise shot that left the U.S. team with virtually no chance.
The situation took a turn for the worse for the United States when Christian Pulisic left the field due to injury, forcing Mauricio Pochettino to adjust his offensive strategy once again.
With the game firmly under control, Belgium managed its lead and still found time to extend it.
In stoppage time, Romelu Lukaku scored the fourth goal, bringing his total to 93 goals for the Belgian national team. He dedicated the goal to Amadou Onana, who was forced to leave the game in the first half due to discomfort in his right knee.
Now they’re targeting Spain
🇧🇪 After Lukaku’s goal, the Belgian players celebrated by doing the dance that U.S. President Donald Trump often does. pic.twitter.com/AeVj4B0QwS
— Soccer and Politics (@FutboliPolitica) July 7, 2026
The result confirms the resurgence of Rudi García’s team, which had raised some doubts during the group stage but found its best form just in time for the knockout round.
Belgium is now set to face one of the toughest challenges of the tournament when it takes on Spain in the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup.
It’s a matchup that promises to bring together two of the teams that have shown the best teamwork so far in the tournament.
For its part, the United States saw its World Cup run come to an end after a match in which it failed to capitalize on Balogun’s return or take advantage of home-field advantage.
And so, sooner than expected, he bids farewell to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he had hoped to compete among the best teams.
Filed under: Belgium Crushes United States