Washington (Rajeev Sharma): Belgium delivered an impressive all-round performance to defeat the United States 4-1 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16, knocking the tournament hosts out of the competition and securing a place in the quarterfinals.
The Red Devils looked sharp from the opening whistle, with Charles De Ketelaere emerging as the standout performer. The Belgian midfielder netted two goals and also created another, playing a decisive role in his team’s convincing victory.
The United States briefly revived hopes after Malik Tillman curled home a superb free kick to restore parity midway through the first half. However, the celebrations were short-lived as Belgium struck back almost immediately, regaining the lead within moments and leaving the home crowd stunned.
Belgium continued to dominate after the interval, capitalising on another defensive lapse by the Americans. A costly error involving goalkeeper Matt Freese allowed the visitors to increase their advantage before substitute Romelu Lukaku sealed the result with a stoppage-time strike.
The fixture had attracted considerable attention before kick-off following FIFA’s decision to revoke Folarin Balogun’s suspension, allowing the striker to feature despite an earlier red card. Although the move sparked debate, Balogun’s return was unable to alter the course of the contest as Belgium controlled proceedings for most of the evening.
American coach Mauricio Pochettino cut a frustrated figure on the touchline, particularly after his side conceded almost immediately following Tillman’s equaliser. Defensive mistakes once again proved costly for the hosts, who struggled to contain Belgium’s quick transitions and clinical finishing.
Belgium will now face Spain in the quarterfinals after the Spanish side edged Portugal in another Round of 16 encounter. The clash between the two European heavyweights is expected to be one of the marquee fixtures of the knockout stage.
For the United States, the defeat ends a campaign that began with optimism but ultimately fell short against one of Europe’s most experienced sides. Despite flashes of promise throughout the tournament, defensive inconsistencies prevented the hosts from progressing further in front of their home supporters.
