Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku celebrates scoring their fourth purpose through the Fifa World Cup 2026 Spherical of 16 United States versus Belgium match at Seattle Stadium, Seattle, Washington, US, July 6, 2026. — Reuters
LOS ANGELES: Fired-up Belgium introduced america’ World Cup celebration to a shuddering halt on Monday, thrashing the event co-hosts 4-1 to arrange 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 conflict that had been overshadowed by the pre-match uproar surrounding US striker Folarin Balogun.
Balogun, named in US coach Mauricio Pochettino’s beginning line-up after Fifa suspended a one-game ban following lobbying by US President Donald Trump, was largely nameless all through Monday’s knockout tie at Seattle’s Lumen Area.
As a substitute, a rampant Belgium ruthlessly dismantled the USA’s hopes of reaching a primary World Cup quarter-final in 24 years, in a bitterly disappointing finish to a marketing campaign that had captivated the host nation.
Belgium captain Youri Tielemans mentioned the furore over Balogun had motivated his team-mates.
“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 advised Belgium’s RTBF broadcaster.
US coach Pochettino mentioned his crew had not turned up on the day.
“Today we were not the same team that we have been during the tournament,” Pochettino mentioned. “It was a very bad day — it wasn’t our day in a collective and individual way.”
De Ketelaere fired Belgium forward after 9 minutes, and though Malik Tillman’s deflected free-kick leveled it within the Thirty first-minute, the US fightback was shortlived.
De Ketelaere headed Belgium again in entrance within the thirty third minute, and Vanaken made it 3-1 within the 57th minute after a dreadful blunder by US goalkeeper Matt Freese, who was dispossessed after charging out of his penalty space to clear.
Veteran striker Lukaku piled on the distress with a fourth in stoppage time.
The defeat capped a tumultuous 24 hours for the World Cup co-hosts, who have been lifted by Fifa’s shock reprieve of Balogun on Sunday — a call which introduced widespread condemnation throughout the soccer world.
Belgium soccer chiefs had challenged Balogun’s eligibility for the sport earlier on Monday however noticed their enchantment dismissed out of hand by Fifa.
“There was a sense of injustice within the squad,” Belgium’s Nicolas Raskin mentioned. “We were determined to respond on the field.”
Unhappy farewell
The Belgians advance to a quarter-final assembly with Spain in Los Angeles on Friday.
Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo seems dejected after the match as Portugal are eradicated from the World Cup, Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas, US, July 6, 2026. — Reuters
The Spaniards booked their place in that recreation with a 1-0 victory over Portugal within the last World Cup match of Cristiano Ronaldo’s profession.
Spanish substitute Mikel Merino coolly slotted the winner within the first minute of stoppage time to seal victory in a dour contest between the Iberian soccer rivals on the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The defeat marked a tragic farewell to the World Cup for Portugal captain Ronaldo, the 41-year-old famous person enjoying in his sixth version of the event.
Former Manchester United and Actual Madrid star Ronaldo, who has struggled to breed his finest type throughout a difficult marketing campaign in america, had lengthy dreamed of including a World Cup winners medal to his assortment of honours amassed over a profession that has straddled three a long time.
However the striker was hardly ever greater than a peripheral determine in a efficiency that noticed Portugal muster simply two photographs heading in the right direction, in comparison with Spain´s six.
Ronaldo mentioned afterwards he would take time to think about his future following the defeat.
“It was my last World Cup, yes, but I´ll have time to think about the rest, to be with my family, not make rash decisions, and just get on with life,” Ronaldo mentioned.
“That´s football, that´s the life of a footballer. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and you have to move on.”
European champions Spain struggled to interrupt down the Portuguese, however lastly took the lead in stoppage time, Merino latching on to a by means of ball from a fast free kick and prodding a low end previous Diogo Costa.
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente was happy with the efficiency.
“It was a fantastic match — a final played early — and, inevitably, we had to sweat it out until the very end,” de la Fuente mentioned. “We put in a complete performance.”
