Belgium players were seen mimicking Donald Trump's signature moves at Seattle Stadium in what appeared to be a deliberate dig at the US president, as they celebrated their 4-1 win over the United States. The victory knocked the USA out of their home World Cup.
Controversy Over Balogun's Eligibility
Emotions were high before kick-off after FIFA controversially permitted USA striker Folarin Balogun to play despite receiving a red card in the previous round. On Monday, Trump publicly backed FIFA's ruling at the Oval Office and revealed he had spoken with FIFA president Gianni Infantino before the suspension was lifted.
Belgium had prepared for the match expecting Balogun to be suspended, only for FIFA to reverse the decision at the eleventh hour. The Royal Belgian Football Association (RBFA) said: "To date, the RBFA has still not received any grounds for this decision, nor has it received the information it has been requesting since the start of this procedure."
Match Highlights
Belgium forward Charles De Ketelaere scored twice in the first half, either side of Malik Tillman's free-kick for the USA. Hans Vanaken slotted the ball into an empty net after the break to make it 3-1. Romelu Lukaku struck a late fourth goal, prompting Belgium's celebration mimicking Trump's dance.
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said: "I felt a bit more certain today that we would win than against Senegal, if I may be honest. They were a stronger team than the US, and that was evident today."
Team Reactions
Belgium captain Youri Tielemans said the Balogun situation fired up his side: "Let's be honest: we held a meeting when we heard the news. We told ourselves we needed to do our talking on the pitch. That's what we did today. I'm very proud of the team."
Nicolas Raskin added: "There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field." Manager Rudi Garcia paid tribute to Balogun, saying: "He came to talk to me. I really liked that. It's not his fault, he's not the one to blame, I told him that. I appreciate the intention of him speaking to me."
Balogun's Response
Balogun addressed the controversy after the match: "When you're given a red card, usually the protocol is you don't play in the following game. Then, when that decision's overturned, of course, it's going to be controversial. So it didn't really surprise me too much. But as a player my job is just to go out there and focus on my job. And I'm disappointed we weren't able to win today."
He added: "I accepted the decision when I was given the red card, and then I also accepted the decision when I was told I could play. There's not too much else I can really say on the matter. All that being said, Belgium were the better team today. They played much better than us."
Belgium's Social Media Jab
Beyond the celebration, the official Belgium football account posted: "Overturn this," accompanied by a graphic displaying the 4-1 scoreline.
What's Next
Belgium will face Spain in the quarter-finals. The USA are out at the round of 16 stage, matching their 2022 exit when they lost 3-1 to the Netherlands. USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino, whose contract expires this summer, said: "In the next weeks, we can start to talk if the federation wants to talk. Right now, it's about resting a little bit, to think, have conversations with the federation to see what the decision is."
