In the early hours of Tuesday, July 7, Belgium cruised to a commanding 4-1 victory over the United States in the Round of 16, securing a place in the quarterfinals.
Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, while Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku also found the net for Belgium. Malik Tillman scored the lone consolation goal for the United States.
After Belgium’s fourth goal, several players celebrated by imitating one of President Trump’s signature dance moves, often seen during his campaign rallies and public appearances.
Speaking after the match, Belgian midfielder Nicolas Raskin said the team had felt unfairly treated by events leading up to the game but chose to respond where it mattered most.
“A lot happened off the pitch over the last two days. As players, we felt we had been treated unfairly, but we stayed focused on responding on the field. We decided to let our football do the talking, and that’s exactly what we did,” Raskin said.
Belgium’s Football Association also joined in the mockery, posting a photo of Romelu Lukaku on social media with the caption:
“Now go ahead and overturn this too.”
Head coach Rudi Garcia revealed that he had spoken with U.S. striker Folarin Balogun before the match, emphasizing that the controversy surrounding the player was not his fault.
“He came over and we talked. I appreciated that. I told him none of this was his fault and that he wasn’t the one to blame. Regardless of the players the U.S. selected, our only focus was preparing for our own game,” Garcia said.
The controversy stemmed from reports that President Trump personally contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino, leading to the suspension of the red card issued to Balogun being overturned, allowing the striker to play against Belgium. Despite his availability, the United States suffered a heavy defeat.
Belgium will now face Spain in the quarterfinals as they continue their quest for a first FIFA World Cup title.
