Belgium routs US as Balogun reprieve fuels World Cup backlash
Belgium beat the United States 4-1 in Seattle after FIFA’s Balogun ruling put politics and football at the center of the last-16 tie.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
3 min read
Belgium knocked the United States out of the World Cup with a 4-1 last-16 win in Seattle, ending the host nation’s bid to reach a first quarterfinal in 24 years. The defeat drew extra attention because FIFA had suspended forward Folarin Balogun’s one-match ban after intervention by US President Donald Trump, a decision that had already angered critics before kickoff.
Charles De Ketelaere scored twice for Belgium, opening the scoring in the ninth minute with a close-range finish. Hans Vanaken also scored after a US goalkeeping error, and substitute Romelu Lukaku added Belgium’s fourth to put the match beyond the Americans.
Balogun started for Mauricio Pochettino’s side after FIFA’s decision cleared him to play, but he made little impact and was substituted in the 92nd minute. Belgium’s win sent Rudi Garcia’s team into a quarterfinal against Spain in Los Angeles on Friday.
The result quickly became a target for social media criticism of the United States team and FIFA’s handling of the ban. Belgium’s official account posted “Overturn this” after the match, a jab at the reversal of Balogun’s suspension, and also teased the United States over its use of “soccer” rather than football.
Lukaku’s celebration also drew attention online. After he scored, Belgium players joined him in a dance that social media users compared with Trump’s familiar campaign-trail move.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino attended the game alongside Pascale Van Damme, chair of the Belgian Football Association, and Cindy Parlow Cone, president of the US Soccer Federation. Before kickoff, Belgium supporters marching to the stadium chanted “FIFA Mafia,” according to reports from the scene.
Critics had already accused FIFA of inconsistency after earlier World Cup disputes involving US visas for Iran’s team, a denied US visa for Somali referee Omar Artan and Haiti being made to change a jersey design over war imagery. Infantino had said before the tournament that FIFA tries to solve problems but must respect governments and law enforcement, adding: “We don’t control everything. Maybe it’s good to just chill, relax.”
Mary Lea Trump, the president’s niece and a frequent critic who has sued him over personal disputes, also attacked his role in the Balogun matter. “He casts a shadow over everything. He can only win if he cheats, and he thinks that applies to everybody else. Sad,” she wrote on X.
Belgium captain Youri Tielemans told Belgian broadcaster RTBF that the controversy had focused his team. “Let’s be honest: We held a meeting when we heard the news,” Tielemans said. “We told ourselves we needed to do our talking on the pitch. That’s what we did today. I’m very proud of the team.”
Midfielder Nicolas Raskin told reporters the result felt like a form of justice after FIFA’s ruling, saying Belgium did not think the decision was fair. Garcia took a calmer line after the match, saying the controversy was not needed as motivation and that Belgium’s game plan mattered most.
Garcia also said he spoke with Balogun after the final whistle. “It’s not his fault, he’s not the one to blame and that’s what I told him,” the Belgium coach said.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.