This combination of pictures created on July 05, 2026 shows US forward Folarin Balogun at the Los Angeles Stadium in Inglewood on June 12, 2026, and Belgium’s Leandro Trossard at Seattle Stadium on July 01, 2026 during the FIFA World Cup 2026 football tournament. Photo by Frederic J. BROWN and ALEX GRIMM / various sources / AFP.
Fired-up Belgium brought the United States’ World Cup party to a shuddering 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.
Instead, a rampant Belgium ruthlessly dismantled the USA’s hopes of reaching a first World Cup quarter-final in 24 years, in a bitterly disappointing end to a campaign that had captivated the host nation.
