The United States men’s national team saw its World Cup aspirations vanish on Monday, falling 4-1 to Belgium in the round of 16 at Lumen Field in Seattle. The match ended the co-hosts’ dream of a deep run at home, exposing defensive frailties as Charles De Ketelaere scored twice and assisted on another goal for the Red Devils .
Belgium seized control from the opening whistle. Charles De Ketelaere broke the deadlock in the ninth minute, ghosting in to tap home Nicolas Raskin’s clever pass across the face of goal. A fabulous save from USA goalkeeper Matt Freese initially kept Belgium from going ahead, but the reprieve was brief .
- The US found a lifeline in the 31st minute when Malik Tillman swept a deflected free kick into the net to bring the USA level .
- Parity lasted only 56 seconds before De Ketelaere rose brilliantly to head home a Leandro Trossard cross for his brace, restoring a 2-1 halftime lead .
- Disaster struck in the 57th minute when Matt Freese dawdled outside his box, allowing De Ketelaere to steal possession and set up Hans Vanaken for an easy third goal .
- Romelu Lukaku added the final gloss in stoppage time, sealing an emphatic 4-1 result for the winners of Group G .
The scoreline flattered no one, with Belgium outperforming their opponents on expected goals (xG) 2.15 to 0.67. This victory advances Belgium to the quarter-final stage for the third consecutive tournament, while the USMNT’s tournament ends in the round of 16 . For the hosts, it was a familiar heartbreak; they were eliminated by Belgium, the same team that knocked them out in 2014 .
The night was overshadowed by the red-card saga that dominated the buildup. The controversy centered on FIFA’s decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban following a red card in the Round of 32, a move that sparked accusations of US President Donald Trump interfering in the tournament by asking FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the suspension . Balogun started the match, but Belgium answered decisively on the field. While the Red Devils had the added motivation of the overturned suspension, one account noted that a team needing extra motivation for a World Cup match has likely already lost .
A small consolation for Mauricio Pochettino’s side was that the US finally won a knockout match at the World Cup for the first time since 2002 in the previous round. However, bowing out at the same stage as four years ago stung, and many US players were in tears after the final whistle. Christian Pulisic’s night also ended early, forced off with an ankle injury in the second half .
Belgium Heads to Los Angeles for a Tough Quarterfinal Against Spain
The reward for Belgium’s statement win is anything but gentle. They travel to Los Angeles Stadium in four days to face Spain, and the Red Devils know the step up in class is steep. Where the USA offered errors to punish, Spain offers relentless possession control that does not gift away cheap chances .
Belgium will take real belief from the manner of this performance. Rudi Garcia’s willingness to make bold calls—most strikingly, benching Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku for the US match and being vindicated—suggests a side playing without fear. De Ketelaere arrives in the form of the tournament, and in Lukaku they have a finisher who keeps rewriting the national scoring record. If those two stay sharp, Belgium can hurt anyone .
However, the defensive questions Belgium papered over against a sloppy US side will face a harsher examination. Spain’s midfield will dominate the ball, potentially forcing Belgium to spend long stretches chasing it, defend deep, and strike on the counter. Discipline at the back and clinical efficiency in transition will likely decide whether this run continues . For a Belgian generation that has carried the “golden” label for years without a major trophy, a quarterfinal against Spain is the test that separates a good tournament from a memorable one. Win it, and talk of a genuine deep run becomes serious .
In the end, the USMNT’s hopes for a deep World Cup run at home ended decisively, with Belgium exposing the Americans’ defensive liabilities in a 4-1 win that earned them a quarterfinal berth .
