Belgium 4-1 USA: De Ketelaere brace sinks USMNT as Trump controversy overshadows Round of 16 exit

The United States’ World Cup run came to an end at Lumen Field in Seattle on Monday, as Belgium ran out comfortable 4-1 winners in the Round of 16 to book a quarterfinal date with Spain.

Charles De Ketelaere set the tone early, converting in just the ninth minute after a low cross was turned home from close range. The Atalanta forward doubled his and Belgium’s tally moments after the U.S. had briefly drawn level, restoring the visitors’ cushion within two minutes.

The USMNT’s equaliser had arrived through Malik Tillman, whose deflected free-kick wrong-footed goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to make it 1-1 just after the half-hour mark. It proved to be the USA’s only moment of real joy on the night, as De Ketelaere’s swift response snuffed out any momentum before the break.

Belgium extended their lead early in the second half when an error at the back from goalkeeper Matt Freese allowed Hans Vanaken to roll the ball into an empty net, making it 3-1 and effectively ending the contest as a spectacle.

Romelu Lukaku added gloss to the scoreline in stoppage time, capitalising on a mistake from Tim Ream to slot home Belgium’s fourth.

The U.S. suffered a further blow in the second half when captain-in-spirit Christian Pulisic was substituted with an apparent ankle injury, visibly emotional as he left the field.

The game had been overshadowed by controversy in the buildup, after a FIFA disciplinary panel delayed a suspension for USMNT forward Folarin Balogun to allow him to feature, a decision that drew criticism after reports that President Donald Trump had personally lobbied FIFA president Gianni Infantino over the red card in question.

Despite the reprieve, Balogun and his teammates could not find an answer to a dominant Belgian display.

Belgium advance to the last eight for the third time in four World Cups and will face Spain, fresh off their 1-0 win over Portugal, in the quarterfinals.