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Romelu Lukaku of Belgium celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 vs USA at Seattle Stadium on July 06, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. [Jamie Squire/AFP]
Belgium brought the United States' World Cup party to a shattering halt on Monday, thrashing the tournament co-hosts 4-1 to set up a quarter-final showdown with Spain.
Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, Hans Vanaken punished a goalkeeping howler, and substitute Romelu Lukaku added a fourth to settle a last-16 clash that had been overshadowed by the pre-match uproar surrounding US striker Folarin Balogun.
Balogun, named in US coach Mauricio Pochettino's starting line-up after FIFA suspended a one-game ban following lobbying by US President Donald Trump, was largely anonymous throughout Monday's knockout tie at Seattle's Lumen Field.
