SEATTLE (USA), JULY 7, 2026 – Belgium reached the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup with a resounding 4-1 victory over the United States at Seattle Stadium. Rudy Garcia's national team dominated the match thanks to a Charles De Ketelaere brace and goals from Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku.
The Americans, supported by the home crowd, had found the temporary equalizer through Malik Tillman, but were unable to contain the superiority of the Red Devils.
De Ketelaere addresses the challenge
Belgium took the lead in the 9th minute through Charles De Ketelaere, who completed the European team's initial dominance.
The United States responded in the 31st minute through Malik Tillman, who converted a free kick won by Folarin Balogun to bring the score back to 1-1.
The tie lasted just 100 seconds, however. In the 33rd minute, De Ketelaere scored his second goal, putting Belgium back in front before halftime.
Vanaken and Lukaku close the deal
In the second half, Rudy Garcia's men managed their lead and found the third goal in the 57th minute through Hans Vanaken.
Romelu Lukaku also scored in stoppage time, making it 4-1 in the 93rd minute, securing qualification for the quarter-finals.
Balogun's return, whose suspension had been revoked before the match, wasn't enough for the United States. The striker created a few chances and secured the free kick that temporarily tied the score, but was unable to make any further impact.
Social irony and controversy in the USA
At the end of the race, the official account of the Belgian Red Devils celebrated the success with an ironic message published on X: “Overturn this” ("Turn this around"), accompanied by images of Romelu Lukaku. The reference was interpreted as a joke about Balogun's suspension being revoked before the match.
In the United States, however, the ironic theory of the so-called “Trump curse”. Among the comments was that of former White House spokesman Anthony Scaramucci, who recalled other sporting events in which, despite predictions or the former president's presence, American teams were defeated.
Belgium thus continues its journey at the 2026 World Cup and reaches the quarter-finals.
