Charles De Ketelaere scored twice and assisted another goal as Belgium defeated the United States 4-1 in the round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Monday night, ending the American hopes of a deep run on home soil. The match at Seattle was overshadowed by a red card controversy involving US star Folarin Balogun, whose one-game suspension was controversially overturned by FIFA just before kickoff.
First Half: US Equalizer Quickly Erased
Belgium took an early lead through a defensive lapse by the US backline. The Americans equalized in the 22nd minute when Malik Tillman scored his second free kick goal of the tournament, curling the ball over the wall and into the net. However, just 61 seconds after the restart, Belgium struck back. A cross from the right flank found De Ketelaere unmarked at the far post, and he slotted home to restore Belgium's lead.
Second Half: Goalkeeper Error Seals US Fate
Early in the second half, US goalkeeper Matt Freese made a costly mistake, misplaying a back pass and allowing Belgium to score a third goal. The goal effectively ended the American comeback hopes. Substitute Romelu Lukaku added a fourth goal in the third minute of stoppage time, tapping in from close range after a counterattack.
Red Card Controversy
The match was preceded by a major controversy. Folarin Balogun had been sent off in the US's final group stage match against Iran, receiving a red card that should have resulted in a one-game suspension. However, FIFA's appeals committee overturned the decision, allowing Balogun to play against Belgium. The reversal drew criticism from Belgium's camp and fans. According to US coach Mauricio Pochettino, the decision was made by FIFA and the team simply accepted it. Pochettino expressed frustration during the match, kicking a rack of water bottles after Belgium's quick goal following the equalizer.
Impact and Next Round
Belgium advances to the quarterfinals to face Spain at Inglewood, California, on Friday. The US exit ends a promising campaign that saw them win their group. The defensive vulnerabilities exposed by Belgium will be a point of concern for American soccer moving forward.
