Belgium Rout Host USA 4-1 to Reach World Cup Quarterfinals Against Spain

Belgium defeated co-host United States 4-1 in the round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending the Americans' hopes of a deep run on home soil. The Red Devils were clinical from the start, taking the lead in the ninth minute through Charles De Ketelaere, who converted a simple tap-in to punish a nervous opening from the US side. De Ketelaere added a second goal later in the match, while Hans Vanaken capitalized on a serious goalkeeping error to extend the lead. Substitute Romelu Lukaku rounded off the scoring with a fourth goal, while the US managed only a consolation strike in reply.

The match had been overshadowed in the build-up by a politically charged controversy. US head coach Mauricio Pochettino named striker Folarin Balogun in his starting lineup despite an initial one-game suspension against him. That ban was suspended by FIFA after US President Donald Trump personally lobbied on Balogun's behalf. In the days leading up to the game, Trump repeatedly stated publicly that banning Balogun would 'stain' the tournament, and warned that a US defeat without the striker would be labeled 'rigged' — language that echoed his previous comments about US elections.

Despite starting the high-profile match, Balogun had little discernible impact on the game and failed to justify the political intervention that had cleared his path to play. Several international outlets characterized the saga surrounding his participation as something of a sideshow that overshadowed the team's on-field performance. The lopsided defeat means the United States, as co-hosts of the tournament, are eliminated from their own World Cup at the round of 16 stage.

Belgium will now face Spain in the quarterfinals on July 10 in Los Angeles. Spain reached that stage after a tightly contested last-16 match against Portugal. In front of a crowd of 70,649 at the air-conditioned home of the Dallas Cowboys, the match remained goalless for long stretches until substitute Mikel Merino struck in the first minute of injury time, finishing off a pass from fellow substitute Ferran Torres to secure a narrow 1-0 win. Portugal narrowly missed out on a quarterfinal berth as a result.

For Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo, the defeat marked the end of his World Cup career. After the final whistle, the 41-year-old superstar confirmed that this had been his last appearance at a World Cup tournament. He left open, however, any decision on his future with the Portuguese national team more broadly, saying that call could wait. Images of young Spanish forward Lamine Yamal consoling a visibly emotional Ronaldo after the match circulated widely in international media.

The two results represent a significant turning point in the tournament, eliminating both a co-host nation and one of the defining figures of international football over the past two decades. Attention now turns to the quarterfinal clash between Belgium and Spain, widely regarded as one of the most attractive fixtures of the knockout stage given both teams' technical quality, albeit with contrasting tactical approaches.

What remains unclear is how the political debate surrounding Trump's intervention in FIFA's disciplinary decision regarding Balogun will develop further, and whether it could have implications for future disciplinary rulings by the governing body. Also unresolved are questions about Balogun's role going forward with the national team and how the US federation will respond to the tournament's early conclusion for the co-hosts.