Howler, heartbreak and reality check as Belgium dump USA out of World Cup
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Reading Time: 6min | Tue. 07.07.26. | 05:04
The defeat means this World Cup’s three co-hosts, Mexico, the US and Canada, have all been eliminated
The United States are out of the World Cup as Belgium eliminated the co-hosts in the last 16 at Seattle Stadium on Tuesday morning.
The US were looking to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2002 but they looked nervy and unsettled from the start of the match, and quickly fell behind when Charles De Ketelaere poked home in the ninth minute.
The Americans fought back and Malik Tillman scored from a direct free-kick for the second match in a row in the 31st minute.
But the goal did little to calm the US and Belgium scored just two minutes later.
On the sideline a frustrated Mauricio Pochettino kicked over some water bottles.
Things would get worse. In the 57th minute Matt Freese rushed out of his area to collect a long ball but lost possession.
Hans Vanaken rolled the ball home. Romelu Lukaku would complete the victory with a smart finish in added time.
The US’s elimination came after a remarkable buildup to the match when striker Folarin Balogun had his red card from the last-32 game suspended, meaning he could start against Belgium.
Fifa’s decision to suspend the red card came after lobbying from Donald Trump, which led to backlash from around the football world.
The defeat means this World Cup’s three co-hosts, Mexico, the US and Canada, have all been eliminated.
Belgium will play Spain in the quarter-finals
Match Report First Half
The Red Devils almost needed just 46 seconds to break the deadlock when Tim Castagne curled a fierce effort towards the top corner, only for goalkeeper Matt Freese to produce a superb fingertip save before comfortably claiming the resulting corner.
Belgium's bright start continued as the Stars and Stripes struggled to cope with the Europeans' movement and intensity.
The warning signs were everywhere, and after Youri Tielemans somehow failed to convert from inside the box in the ninth minute, the Americans failed to heed them.
Moments later, Nicolas Raskin skipped to the byline before cutting the ball back for De Ketelaere, who calmly swept home from close range to give the Red Devils a fully deserved 1-0 lead.
The US found little joy going forward as Belgium dictated possession, although captain Tyler Adams repeatedly rescued his side with crucial recoveries, including one superb tracking run to halt a dangerous counterattack.
Belgium were then forced into an early reshuffle when influential midfielder Amadou Onana limped off injured after 19 minutes, with Hans Vanaken coming on in his place.
The Stars and Stripes gradually began asking more questions, largely through the relentless running of former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun, who chased every loose ball and unsettled Thibaut Courtois with aggressive pressing.
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The striker was, however, fortunate to escape punishment after television replays appeared to show him shoving one Belgian player into another during an off the ball incident.
With VAR opting against any intervention, Balogun lived to fight on, much to the frustration of the Red Devils.
That decision proved costly for Belgium in the 31st minute.
A United States free kick cannoned off the Belgian wall before falling kindly to Malik Tillman, who reacted quickest to rifle home beyond a wrong footed Courtois and haul Mauricio Pochettino's side level.
The celebrations had barely died down before Belgium hit back in devastating fashion.
Just 116 seconds later, Leandro Trossard burst down the left and delivered a teasing cross that De Ketelaere attacked ahead of veteran defender Tim Ream, powering home his second goal of the evening to restore Belgium's advantage at 2-1.
The Americans refused to surrender before the interval. Balogun nearly capitalised on another uncertain moment from Courtois deep into stoppage time after Tillman slipped him through, but the Belgian goalkeeper recovered just enough to deny him.
Moments later, Sergiño Dest embarrassed his marker with a delightful nutmeg before finding Balogun again, whose persistence earned a late corner, although Belgium comfortably dealt with the danger to preserve their slender halftime lead.
Second half
Pochettino wasted no time trying to rescue the contest, introducing Gio Reyna for Dest at the restart as the Stars and Stripes searched for a way back after trailing 2-1 at the interval.
The change immediately injected fresh energy into the hosts, who enjoyed their brightest spell of the match with Pulisic leading the press and forcing Belgium into hurried clearances.
The Americans suddenly looked more adventurous and Balogun, playing after his controversial red card from the previous round was overturned, twice threatened to justify his second chance.
The striker first rose to meet Robinson's inviting cross before failing to direct his effort on target, then came within inches of reaching Reyna's clever chipped pass as the home supporters sensed an equaliser.
Yet despite enjoying more possession and attacking intent, Belgium remained composed, soaking up the pressure before waiting patiently to strike again.
The decisive moment arrived in the 57th minute and completely changed the complexion of the contest.
Freese, who had produced a couple of excellent saves in the opening half, endured a nightmare after racing off his line to deal with what appeared to be a routine ball.
Under relentless pressure from De Ketelaere, the American goalkeeper hesitated, lost possession and could only watch in horror as Vanaken calmly rolled the loose ball into an unguarded net from almost 30 yards out.
The howler silenced Lumen Field and handed the Red Devils a commanding 3-1 advantage, leaving Pochettino's side with an even steeper mountain to climb.
To compound the misery, Pulisic was forced off moments later after failing to recover from an earlier knock, depriving the hosts of their biggest attacking weapon just when they needed him most.
Belgium sensed the game was there for the taking and tightened their grip with another masterclass in game management.
De Ketelaere, after tormenting the American defence with two goals and relentless pressing, departed to warm applause alongside Trossard, making way for the fresh legs of Lukaku and Doku as Belgium continued to threaten every time they surged forward.
The Americans, however, refused to surrender. Freeman remained a constant outlet down the right flank while Berhalter came agonisingly close to sparking a comeback in the 79th minute
He unleashed a fierce drive that flashed inches wide of Courtois' far post with the Belgian goalkeeper beaten.
Three minutes later came perhaps the defining moment for Balogun, whose availability after a successful appeal had dominated headlines before kick off.
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Released by a perfectly weighted pass, the striker found himself one on one with Courtois, but the towering Belgian goalkeeper spread himself brilliantly to deny the ex Arsenal forward from a tight angle, extinguishing what little hope remained for the home crowd.
With the Stars and Stripes committing more bodies forward in a desperate search for a miracle, Belgium delivered the final blow deep into stoppage time.
Lukaku rolled back the years by drifting inside before curling a superb low finish beyond the helpless Freese to make it 4-1.
He celebrated by cupping his ears towards the Seattle crowd as the Red Devils sealed an emphatic victory.
Veteran midfielder Axel Witsel also enjoyed a memorable cameo after becoming Belgium's oldest ever World Cup player at the age of 37, while the final whistle confirmed a thoroughly deserved place in the quarter finals.
The pressure appeared to get to US who struggled to create meaningful chances.
They have now fallen at the last-16 stage at four of the past past five World Cups.