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Belgium dumps USA out of World Cup with 4-1 rout
🇯🇲 Jamaica /Sports

Belgium dumps USA out of World Cup with 4-1 rout

From Jamaica Observer · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Belgium defeated the United States 4-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16.
  • Charles De Ketelaere scored two goals for Belgium, while Malik Tillman and Romelu Lukaku also found the net.
  • The US team's performance was described as flat, and they were eliminated from the tournament.

Belgium has eliminated the United States from the FIFA World Cup 2026 with a decisive 4-1 victory in Seattle. The win propels Belgium into the quarter-finals, where they will face Spain, while the US joins co-hosts Canada and Mexico in exiting the tournament at the round of 16.

Belgium dumped the United States out of their own World Cup Monday, as Charles De Ketelaere’s brace secured a 4-1 win that was eclipsed by the bitter row over Folarin Balogun’s ban.

— AFPSummary of the match outcome and surrounding controversy.

Charles De Ketelaere was the standout performer for Belgium, scoring twice. His opening goal in the ninth minute silenced the home crowd, and he quickly restored Belgium's lead after Malik Tillman had equalized for the US from a free kick. A goalkeeping error by Matt Freese contributed to Belgium's third goal, scored by Hans Vanaken, and Romelu Lukaku added a late fourth.

Victory means the Belgians face Spain in the quarter-finals, while the US follow co-hosts Canada and Mexico out of the tournament with elimination in the round of 16 after a thoroughly flat performance.

— AFPDescribes the consequences of the match for both teams.

The US team's performance was widely criticized as flat, lacking fight and looking nervous in defense. Despite pre-game attention on Folarin Balogun's controversial one-game suspension, which FIFA controversially reviewed, the US offense struggled. The atmosphere in the stadium, initially electric with a "USA" thunderclap, quickly deflated after Belgium's early lead.

All attention pre-game had been on Balogun’s place in the US starting lineup, after US President Donald Trump asked FIFA to review the striker’s one-game suspension for a red card, and the governing body controversially obliged.

— AFPHighlights the pre-match controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun's suspension.

Coach Rudi Garcia's tactical decisions, including benching key players like Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku, proved inspired. The victory marks a significant turnaround for Belgium, who had a questionable path to this stage, and sets up a quarter-final clash with Spain.

But Belgium’s XI had a few surprises of its own, with Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku among the heavyweights benched. And coach Rudi Garcia’s gambit proved inspired, with De Ketelaere grabbing an early goal to puncture the feelgood vibes in Seattle.

— AFPDiscusses Belgium's tactical decisions and their impact on the game.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jamaica Observer in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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