Video: Belgium upsets America to advance to World Cup quarterfinals

2026 World Cup hosts Belgium hurt the United States and beat them 4-1 in the round of 16 on Tuesday morning to book their place in the quarter-finals after a determined attacking display.

Belgium started the match with attacking pressure from the opening seconds, as goalkeeper Matt Friese blocked Timothee Castanet’s first-minute effort, before Yuri Tillmans’ shot was turned away for a corner after it deflected off the defence. The pressure continued until Charles De Kittilari opened the scoring in the 9th minute after he latched on to Nicholas Ruskin’s pass and fired home from close range.

The Belgian team received an early blow with the injury of Amadou Onana. He left the field in the 21st minute and was replaced by Hans Vanake, while the match was stopped more than once due to injuries to Chris Richards and Brandon Micheli.

The American side managed to equalize in the 31st minute through Malik Tillman, who brilliantly curled a free kick past Thibaut Courtois after Brandon Micheli’s foul on Folarin Balogun in the 30th minute.

But Belgium’s response was swift as De Kittilari restored the lead in the 33rd minute with a close-range header from Leandro Trossar’s perfect pass to make it 2-1 to Belgium at half-time after the referee’s technology overturned a referee’s decision on Folarin Balogun.

The American team had to make an early substitution for Giovanni Reina at the start of the second half, with Serjini Dest replacing him, before Christian Pulisic went off injured in the 59th minute and was replaced by Sebastian Berhalter.

Hans Vanaken extended the lead in the 57th minute with a powerful strike from outside the penalty area, taking advantage of De Ketelari’s pass to give Belgium a comfortable lead.

The Belgian coach made two substitutions in the 67th minute, bringing on Romelu Lukaku and Jeremy Doku, and the American side tried to fight back with several chances, most notably Balogun’s shot that was saved by Courtois in the 82nd minute, then a header by the same striker that went off the post in the 83rd minute, and the 83rd in the 9th minute. minute almost closed the gap.

In stoppage time, Lukaku ended the hosts’ hopes with a fourth goal in the second minute of the break (+90+2), after receiving a pass from Wanaken and firing it into the right corner, just before Balogun came off the pitch to replace Haji Wright.

With the win, Belgium continued their journey to the quarter-finals of the tournament as they prepare for a tough match against Spain, who knocked Portugal out of the tournament 1-0 on Monday night.