The United States men's national team was eliminated from the 2026 World Cup in stunning fashion, losing 2-1 to Belgium in the round of 16 on Tuesday. The match was overshadowed by a contentious decision to disallow a goal from Folarin Balogun, sparking widespread backlash against FIFA's officiating standards.
Controversial Disallowed Goal Decides the Match
With the score tied 1-1 in the 78th minute, Balogun appeared to have scored a close-range header, only for the referee to rule it out after a VAR review for a marginal offside. Replays showed the decision was extremely tight, with Balogun's shoulder allegedly ahead of the last defender. The US players and coaching staff protested vehemently, but the decision stood.
Belgium capitalized on the controversy, scoring the winning goal in the 89th minute through a counter-attack led by Kevin De Bruyne, who set up Romelu Lukaku for a simple tap-in. The US had earlier taken the lead through a Christian Pulisic penalty in the 34th minute, but Belgium equalized just before halftime through a Leandro Trossard strike.
FIFA Under Fire Over Officiating
The disallowed goal has reignited criticism of FIFA's use of VAR and the consistency of officiating in the tournament. US coach Gregg Berhalter said after the match: "I'm incredibly proud of the team's performance, but the decision to disallow that goal is devastating. The margins are fine, but we need clarity and consistency. The players deserve better."
FIFA defended the decision, stating in a brief statement that the VAR review confirmed the offside. However, former referees and pundits have questioned the interpretation, with many arguing that the call was too harsh and that the technology is being applied inconsistently.
US Performance and Future Outlook
Despite the defeat, the US team put in a spirited performance, dominating possession (58%) and creating more chances (14 shots to Belgium's 9). Goalkeeper Matt Turner made several crucial saves to keep the US in the game. The loss marks the end of a World Cup campaign that saw the US finish second in Group D behind Argentina, with wins over Switzerland and Colombia.
Berhalter added: "We have a young, talented squad, and this experience will make us stronger. We'll learn from this and come back better for 2030." The US will now turn their attention to the 2028 Olympics and the 2030 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico.
Backlash Against FIFA Intensifies
The controversy has added fuel to growing discontent with FIFA's governance, with fans and media accusing the organization of prioritizing commercial interests over fair play. Social media erupted with calls for reform, and a petition demanding VAR transparency has garnered over 100,000 signatures. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has not commented on the specific incident but reiterated the organization's commitment to improving officiating.
Belgium will face Argentina in the quarter-finals, while the US exit with their heads held high despite the bitter end to their campaign.
