Washington: Belgium booked their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarterfinals with a commanding 4-1 victory over hosts United States, bringing an end to the Americans’ hopes of making a memorable run on home soil. A clinical attacking display from the European side proved too much for the US, despite an early fightback and the return of forward Folarin Balogun.
Belgium seized control of the contest with Charles De Ketelaere leading the charge. The midfielder produced a standout performance, scoring twice and setting up another goal as the Red Devils consistently punished defensive lapses by the American backline.
The United States briefly restored parity through Malik Tillman, whose well-struck free kick found the net to level the score. However, Belgium responded almost immediately, reclaiming the lead just over a minute later and shifting the momentum firmly in their favour.
The second half brought further frustration for the hosts. A costly mistake from goalkeeper Matt Freese gifted Belgium another goal, allowing the visitors to extend their advantage and put the contest beyond doubt. Substitute Romelu Lukaku then added the finishing touch deep into stoppage time with Belgium’s fourth goal.
The match had drawn significant attention before kick-off after FIFA overturned Folarin Balogun’s one-match suspension, allowing the striker to feature against Belgium. While his return boosted the American attack, it failed to change the outcome as Belgium remained dominant throughout the encounter.
On the sidelines, US head coach Mauricio Pochettino visibly expressed his disappointment after Belgium’s quick response to Tillman’s equaliser, reacting angrily in the technical area as his team’s defensive errors continued to prove costly.
With the victory, Belgium advanced to the quarterfinals, where they will face Spain in what promises to be one of the tournament’s biggest clashes. For the United States, the defeat marked the end of their World Cup journey despite entering the knockout stage with high expectations as tournament hosts.
