Belgium delivered a crushing 4-1 defeat to the United States in their Round of 16 clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending the USA's hopes of reaching their first quarter-final in 24 years.

The match, held in Seattle's Lumen Field, saw Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere score twice, Hans Vanaken capitalize on a costly goalkeeping error by US keeper Matt Freese, and Romelu Lukaku sealing the victory in stoppage time.The result sets up a dramatic quarter-final showdown against Spain, a team that had previously defeated Belgium in the group stage.

The match was overshadowed by controversy surrounding US forward Folarin Balogun, who was controversially named in the starting line-up after FIFA overturned a one-game ban following pressure from former US President Donald Trump.

Despite the pre-match uproar, Belgium focused on their performance, with captain Youri Tielemans stating the team's determination to 'do their talking on the pitch.

' US coach Mauricio Pochettino admitted his team was 'not the same' as previous matches, calling it a 'very bad day' for the Americans.The defeat marked a tumultuous end to the USA's campaign, which had initially captured the hearts of the host nation but ended in heartbreak.