Balogun fired back in vain as Belgium beat the USA to set up Spain in the quarter-finals | World Cup 2026 news

The starting position of Folarin Balogun, after a red card suspension, was unable to impress the USA, who lost to the elite Belgium.

Belgium knocked the USA out of the World Cup on Monday, with Charles De Ketelaere’s goal saved and 4-1 win which was overshadowed by the bitter controversy over the banning of Folarin Balogun.

The win means the Belgians will face Spain in the quarterfinals, with the USA following hosts Canada and Mexico out of the tournament and making it out of the round of 16 after a strong performance.

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All pre-match attention was on Balogun’s position in the USA since United States President Donald Trump asked FIFA to review the player’s one-game suspension for a red card, and the governing body obliged.

The starting team of Belgium had its own surprises, Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku one of the heavyweights placed on the bench, and the gamble of the coach Rudi Garcia was confirmed, when De Ketelaere grabbed the first goal to blow up the good sounds in Seattle.

Malik Tillman pulled one back from a free kick, but De Ketelaere quickly restored Belgium’s lead. Matt Freese’s dangerous strike and Romelu Lukaku’s goal have left the Americans dead and buried.

FIFA’s decision to lift Balogun’s ban after he was sent off in the previous round against Bosnia and Herzegovina was criticized by football fans, pundits and players around the world, but there was no such doubt among the Seattle crowd.

Loud cheers greeted the announcement of Balogun’s name on the stadium’s starting line-up, dampening the excitement even for USA’s talisman Christian Pulisic.

Chants of “USA” echoed around the stadium, drowning out the chants of the Belgian fans in the opening minutes.

But the American party was quickly shut down. Most of the 67,000 fans fell silent in the ninth minute when De Ketelaere scored, only to head home from close range after Nicolas Raskin’s cross had eluded a sloppy defence.

It was the first time the Americans had conceded a World Cup opener. With the foul air, no fighting was seen on the field again. The midfield was strong and the defense looked sharp.

On the half-hour mark, Balogun drew fouls on the edge of the area and whipped the team back to life. He waved his hands frantically as Malik Tillman – fresh from scoring a free kick against Bosnia – cleared the ball.

Tillman’s shot bounced off the Belgian wall and into the net, and the stadium shook.

But the joy was also short-lived. In the 33rd minute, De Ketelaere leaped to meet Leandro Trossard’s ball and out-jumped Tim Ream for the second goal.

The US got back into the game as the first half ended, Balogun burst from Tillman’s long throw, then failed to catch a long ball, from the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder.

US coach Mauricio Pochettino made a change at half-time, sending Gio Reyna on at number 10 and pushing Weston McKennie to the right. The Americans started to play more aggressively, and raised more.

But self-inflicted disaster struck in the 57th minute. Freese came out to collect a long Belgian ball, turned to escape De Ketelaere, but hesitated with his pass.

De Ketelaere flicked the ball to Hans Vanaken, who made no mistake with an open goal from distance.

Pulisic limped off injured minutes later, taking away the US’s dream of reaching the World Cup quarterfinals since 2002.

His replacement, Sebastian Berhalter, had a quick shot in the 79th minute, and Balogun made a quick save.

But Chris Richards gave the ball to Lukaku in stoppage time, and the former striker did not hesitate to seal it.