Belgium emphatically ended the United States' World Cup dreams with a 4-1 victory in Seattle, advancing to the quarter-finals. The win was overshadowed by controversy surrounding US striker Folarin Balogun's eligibility, which sparked mockery of FIFA and President Donald Trump from the Belgian team.
Balogun Suspension Overturned
Balogun had been sent off against Bosnia-Herzegovina and faced an automatic one-match suspension. However, FIFA overturned the ban less than 24 hours before the match, deferring it for 12 months. This allowed Balogun to start for Mauricio Pochettino's side. President Trump later admitted he personally requested FIFA review the ban, claiming Balogun's absence would have left a "big stain" on the tournament.
Belgium's Motivation
Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin revealed the controversy fueled Belgium's determination. "A lot has happened off the pitch over the last two days," he said. "There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field." Captain Youri Tielemans added, "We told ourselves we had to respond on the pitch. That's what we did."
Mockery After Goals
After Belgium's fourth goal, several players performed Trump's trademark campaign dance—rocking hips and slowly pumping arms—prompting many US fans to leave early. Belgium's official Instagram account later posted a picture of Romelu Lukaku cupping his ear with the caption "overturn this."
Reactions and Aftermath
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia thanked fans, saying, "To everyone who got up in the middle of the night to support us, I'd like to say a huge thank you. They should be happy and proud of their players today. We showed that Belgium is a great football nation." US coach Pochettino admitted, "It was really tough from the beginning. We congratulate Belgium, they were better than us. It wasn't our day. We need to learn."
