Belgium produced a commanding performance to eliminate co-hosts United States, securing a 4-1 victory in the World Cup last-16 stage and advancing to the quarter-finals.
The result came amid significant pre-match controversy surrounding a FIFA ruling on American forward Folarin Balogun.
Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin explained that the squad had felt a sense of injustice over the suspension of Balogun’s one-match ban, which followed a red card against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
He added that the team had been determined to respond on the pitch. Belgium did exactly that with an emphatic display.
Charles De Ketelaere opened the scoring and added a second goal after they equalized with Malik Tillman’s free-kick for the United States. Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku completed the rout, setting up a quarter-final clash against Spain.
The Belgian Football Association expressed astonishment at FIFA’s decision to lift Balogun’s ban for a year, while coach Rudi Garcia had criticized the move, likening it to an April Fool’s joke.
Despite the off-field distractions, Belgium focused on delivering a strong on-pitch answer.
Raskin noted that a lot had happened off the pitch in the preceding two days. He stated there had been a sense of injustice within the squad and that the players had been determined to respond on the field.
The victory marked Belgium’s fourth World Cup quarter-final appearance, including their third in the last four tournaments (2014, 2018, and 2026).
They have now progressed in five of their last six knockout matches against non-UEFA opponents, winning the previous four consecutively.
Garcia’s substitutions proved decisive once again, with Vanaken and Lukaku’s goals representing the fourth and fifth scored by Belgian substitutes at this World Cup, the highest total of any team in the competition.
The coach emphasized that his side had concentrated solely on their own game plan before kick-off.
He said they had played with mastery, willingness, and dedication, describing it as a great night and a strong qualification for the quarter-finals.
Belgium will now face Spain in Los Angeles for a semi-final place. However, they are likely to be without Amadou Onana, who reportedly sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in the first half.
