The United States’ World Cup celebration came to a shuddering halt on Monday when fiery Belgium thrashed the tournament co-hosts 4-1, setting up a quarterfinal matchup 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 quarterfinal in 24 years, in a bitterly disappointing end to a campaign that had captivated the host nation.
Belgium captain Youri Tielemans said the furore over Balogun had motivated his team-mates.
“Let’s be honest: we held a meeting when we heard the news,” Tielemans said.
“We told ourselves we needed to do our talking on the pitch. That’s what we did today. I’m very proud of the team,” the Aston Villa midfielder told Belgium’s RTBF broadcaster.
US coach Pochettino said his team had not turned up on the day.
“Today we were not the same team that we have been during the tournament,” Pochettino said. “It was a very bad day — it wasn’t our day in a collective and individual way.”
De Ketelaere fired Belgium ahead after nine minutes, and although Malik Tillman’s deflected free-kick leveled it in the 31st-minute, the US fightback was shortlived.
