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Belgium Beats US in World Cup, Mocks Trump in Celebration
๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡น Lithuania /Sports

Belgium Beats US in World Cup, Mocks Trump in Celebration

From Delfi · () Lithuanian

Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Belgium defeated the United States 4-1 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Round of 16, advancing to the quarterfinals.
  • The Belgian team celebrated their victory by mimicking a dance associated with Donald Trump, seemingly in response to a controversy surrounding a player's red card.
  • The Belgian Football Association also criticized the decision to overturn a red card for a US player, calling it "astonishing" and contrary to FIFA rules.

Belgium has advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a decisive 4-1 victory over co-hosts the United States in Seattle. The Belgian team showcased a dominant performance, capitalizing on opponent errors to secure their place in the next round of the tournament.

Adding a layer of controversy and commentary to their win, the Belgian players celebrated their victory by performing a dance associated with U.S. President Donald Trump. This gesture appeared to be a pointed response to a pre-match controversy where a red card suspension for U.S. player Folarin Balogun was reportedly overturned following a call from Trump to FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The Belgian Football Association had previously expressed dismay over the decision, deeming it "astonishing" and in direct violation of FIFA regulations.

Beyond the on-field action and celebratory antics, the Belgian Football Association also used social media to subtly mock the U.S. team and the situation. Posts referenced the overturned red card and humorously corrected the American tendency to call soccer "football." This victory marks Belgium's return to the World Cup quarterfinals after an eight-year absence, while the U.S. team has now been eliminated at the Round of 16 stage for the fourth time in five tournaments.

priblokลกti

โ€” Belgian Football AssociationDescribing their reaction to the decision to overturn Folarin Balogun's red card.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.