Belgium knocked the United States out of the FIFA 2026 World Cup with a 4-1 win in Seattle on Monday, then turned the celebration into a political statement. Romelu Lukaku scored the fourth goal in stoppage time and led his teammates in a dance imitating President Donald Trump’s signature moves at rallies. Minutes later, the official Belgian Red Devils account posted a photo of the squad under two words: “Overturn this.” The taunt was aimed at FIFA, which had overturned a one-match red-card suspension on US striker Folarin Balogun a day earlier, after Trump personally called FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The result extended Belgium’s unbeaten run to 18 games and booked the Red Devils a quarter-final against Spain at Los Angeles Stadium on July 10. It also delivered a public rebuke to FIFA at the exact moment Infantino was watching from a stadium suite.
How Belgium Dismantled the US at Seattle Stadium
Belgium took the lead in the ninth minute through Charles De Ketelaere, who tapped in a cross from Nicolas Raskin after Leandro Trossard’s teasing delivery had caused chaos in the US defence. Malik Tillman equalised for the US with a deflected free kick in the 31st minute, but De Ketelaere headed Belgium back in front two minutes later from another Trossard cross. The lead held through the interval and grew before the hour.
Hans Vanaken punished a defensive mishap in the 57th minute, sliding the ball into an empty net after US goalkeeper Matt Freese raced out of his area and missed the ball, with De Ketelaere nipping in to steal possession. Substitute Lukaku completed the rout in the third minute of stoppage time, pouncing on a loose clearance and finishing low into the bottom right corner. Belgium coach Rudi Garcia said his side had “showed that Belgium is a great football nation.”
The margin reflected Belgium’s control throughout. Belgium’s 4-1 win over USA at Seattle Stadium set up a last-eight meeting with Spain, after Spain eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.
- Final score: Belgium 4, USA 1
- Goalscorers: De Ketelaere (9, 33), Vanaken (57), Lukaku (90+3); Tillman (31)
- Belgium unbeaten streak: now 18 games
- Co-hosts eliminated: USA the last of three, after Canada and Mexico
The Trump Dance That Followed Lukaku’s Goal
Once Lukaku put the result beyond doubt, he jogged toward the corner flag and was joined by a huddle of teammates. Together they performed a series of raised-fist arm pumps that matched the dance Trump has used repeatedly at rallies. Television cameras caught the choreography from multiple angles inside Seattle Stadium, and the clip spread across social media within minutes.
Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin framed the result as a kind of justice after the week his team had endured. “Like I said, I think there is always a justice somewhere in life, and the fact that something can happen like that, you can put it all you want, but we don’t think that was fair,” Raskin told reporters. Captain Youri Tielemans said the Balogun furore had focused the squad rather than distracted it.
Let’s be honest: We held a meeting when we heard the news. 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.
Tielemans, the Aston Villa midfielder, made the comments to Belgium’s RTBF broadcaster.
Belgium’s Account Strikes Back at FIFA
The official X account of the Belgian Red Devils posted an image of the squad celebrating alongside the two-word caption “Overturn this.” It was the clearest public rejoinder from a national federation to FIFA’s ruling, which the Royal Belgian Football Association had called “astonishing” the day before. The post landed the same evening FIFA President Gianni Infantino was seated in a stadium suite.
Belgium had prepared for the round of 16 expecting Balogun to sit out, only for FIFA’s late reversal to force a tactical rethink on Sunday night. The RBFA filed an appeal that FIFA deemed “inadmissible,” then issued a pointed warning. “This leaves all further actions open,” the federation stated. “To date, the RBFA has still not received any grounds for this decision, nor has it received the information it has been requesting since the start of this procedure.”
Belgium fans had already turned up the heat before kick-off. Supporters chanted “FIFA Mafia” during their pre-game march to Lumen Field. After the match, the on-pitch celebration doubled down on the message the official account had posted online.
Infantino watched from a suite with Pascale Van Damme, chair of the Belgian Football Association, and Cindy Parlow Cone, president of the USSF. His presence ensured the rebuke from Belgium landed in front of the person it was aimed at.
The Legal Pathway FIFA Used to Clear Balogun
Balogun was shown a straight red card during the United States’ 2-0 round-of-32 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina after Video Assisted Review upgraded an on-field non-call. The US striker had made contact with the ankle of Bosnia defender Tarik Muharemovic while attempting a ball, a collision officials ruled serious foul play after video review. No foul had been called at pitch level. Balogun would normally have served a one-match suspension, forcing him out of the Belgium clash.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee instead invoked Article 27 of the organisation’s disciplinary code, a provision that allows the body to suspend enforcement of red-card bans that are unrelated to match-fixing. how FIFA used Article 27 to lift Balogun’s ban keeps the red card on Balogun’s record and places the striker on a one-year probationary period. If he commits “another infringement of a similar nature and gravity” during that window, he will serve the original one-match ban.
FIFA had previously used Article 27 to clear Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal’s opening games of this tournament after his red card against the Republic of Ireland. The mechanism and the precedent were already in plain view; the difference this time was who had asked for it.
Trump’s Three Calls to FIFA
The Guardian reported on July 5 that Trump made three calls to FIFA, starting from the Wednesday after the red card, to press for a review. Trump publicly confirmed the contact at the White House on Monday and wrote on Truth Social: “Thank you to Fifa for doing what was right, and reversing a great injustice!”
Infantino released a statement confirming the call but said the decision was made without Trump’s influence. “There was an ongoing legal process involving FIFA’s independent judicial bodies and that the case would be decided in due course by the competent bodies,” Infantino wrote on X. “That is how FIFA’s system works and it is a principle that I will always uphold.” Infantino’s statement on the Balogun ruling did not address Trump’s claim that he had personally pushed for the reversal.
US coach Mauricio Pochettino said “everyone that really loves the sport and trusts ethics and integrity, I think we celebrate all that decision,” arguing the red card had been “completely unfair.” Pochettino also praised the FIFA ruling publicly.
US Soccer said it was “pleased that Folarin Balogun is eligible to compete,” a stance that drew its own backlash online. Critics coined a new acronym for FIFA: Fix It For America, which trended on social media. The full background of how the ban was first reversed, from red card to Infantino’s call, is laid out in how Trump pushed FIFA to reverse Balogun’s ban.
- Wednesday, July 1: USA beats Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 in the round of 32; Balogun is shown a straight red after VAR review upgrades an on-field non-call for serious foul play.
- Sunday, July 5: The Guardian reports Trump made three calls to FIFA, starting from Wednesday, to press for a review; FIFA announces the Article 27 ruling.
- Monday, July 6: Trump publicly confirms the calls at the White House; Belgium’s RBFA files an appeal that FIFA deems “inadmissible”; Balogun is named in the US starting lineup.
- Monday, July 6, evening: Belgium beats the USA 4-1 at Seattle Stadium; Lukaku’s goal celebration mimics Trump’s dance; the Red Devils account posts “Overturn this.”
USA’s Exit Caps the Co-Hosts’ World Cup
Belgium’s win made the United States the last co-host to exit the tournament, after Canada and Mexico were both eliminated in the round of 16. The US last reached a World Cup quarter-final in 2002. Pochettino, whose contract expires this summer and who is yet to decide his future, said his side had been outplayed. “It was really tough from the beginning. We congratulate Belgium, they were better than us. It wasn’t our day,” Pochettino told reporters.
Belgium faces Spain on July 10 at Los Angeles Stadium, with the winner advancing to a semi-final against the victor of France versus Morocco. Balogun played the full match against Belgium but was largely anonymous before being substituted in the 92nd minute. The result leaves the dispute over his eligibility unresolved, with the RBFA’s threat of further action still on the table.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score between Belgium and the USA in the 2026 World Cup?
Belgium won 4-1 at Seattle Stadium in the round of 16. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice inside the first 33 minutes, Hans Vanaken added a third after a US goalkeeping error, and Romelu Lukaku completed the rout in stoppage time after coming off the bench. Malik Tillman replied for the United States.
Why did Belgium mock Donald Trump after the match?
Belgium’s players performed raised-fist arm pumps after Lukaku’s fourth goal, mirroring the dance Trump uses at rallies. The Belgian Red Devils’ official account then posted a photo of the celebration captioned “Overturn this.” Both were aimed at FIFA’s last-minute decision to lift Folarin Balogun’s one-match red-card suspension, which Trump had personally pushed for by calling FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
What is Article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code?
Article 27 lets FIFA’s disciplinary committee pause enforcement of a red-card ban when the offence is unrelated to match-fixing. The red card stays on the player’s record, and they enter a one-year probationary window during which a similar offence triggers the original one-match ban.
When does Belgium play next in the 2026 World Cup?
Belgium faces Spain at Los Angeles Stadium on Friday, July 10, in a quarter-final. The winner will play either France or Morocco in the semi-final.
What happens next with the Balogun red-card dispute?
The Royal Belgian Football Association has said “all further actions remain open” and is still waiting for FIFA’s written reasoning for the Article 27 ruling. Balogun remains on a one-year probationary period, and any similar offence during that window triggers the original ban.
