Folarin Balogun started after being suspended for a red card, but could not make an impact on the USA, who lost to higher-ranked Belgium.
Published July 7, 2026
Belgium secured a 4-1 victory on Monday thanks to a brace from Charles de Ketelaère, but was overshadowed by a heated spat over Folarin Balogun’s suspension, expelling the United States from their World Cup.
With this victory, Belgium would face Spain in the quarterfinals, but the United States had a flat record and was eliminated from the round of 16, joining other World Cup co-hosts Canada and Mexico in being eliminated from the tournament.
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Pre-match attention had focused on Balogun’s role in the US starting lineup after US President Donald Trump controversially asked FIFA to reconsider his one-match suspension for a red card, and the board complied.
Belgium’s starting line-up had some surprises of its own, with heavyweights Kevin De Bruyne and Jeremy Doku on the bench. However, manager Rudi Garcia’s strategy paid off as De Quetelaere scored an early goal to shatter Seattle’s comfortable atmosphere.
Malik Tillman pulled one back from a free kick, but De Ketelaele quickly restored Belgium’s lead. Matt Freese’s disastrous goaltending and Romelu Lukaku’s late goal left the Americans dead and buried.
FIFA’s move to suspend Balogun’s suspension after he was sent off in last week’s game against Bosnia and Herzegovina has been heavily criticized by soccer fans, pundits and players around the world, but there was no such fear among the Seattle crowd.
The in-stadium announcement announcing Balogun’s place in the starting lineup caused a huge roar, dwarfing even the cheers from American defender Christian Pulisic.
The thunder of “USA” then echoed throughout the stadium, completely drowning out the cheers of some Belgian fans within the first few minutes.
However, the American side was quickly silenced. The majority of the 67,000 fans were silenced in the ninth minute as Nicholas Raskin’s cross evaded loose defence, allowing De Quetelaele to score easily from close range.
It was the first time in the tournament that the Americans conceded a goal in the opening game. There was no immediate counterattack on the pitch as the atmosphere subsided. The midfield was weak and the defense looked nervous.
After the half-hour mark, Balogun energized the crowd with a foul on the edge of the area. Tillman, who had just taken a free kick against Bosnia, lined up the ball and waved his arms frantically.
Tillman’s shot hit the Belgium wall, spun into the net and shook the stadium.
But the joy was also short-lived. In the 33rd minute, De Quetelaele jumped to meet Leandro Trossard’s cross and effortlessly leapt over an off-balance Tim Ream to score his second goal.
At the end of the first half, the Americans gradually pulled back into the game, and Balogun jumped over Tillman’s long throw, but was again unable to catch a long ball from the Bayer Leverkusen midfielder.
American manager Mauricio Pochettino changed the formation at half-time, sending Gio Reyna into the number 10 role and pushing Weston McKennie out to the right. The Americans resumed playing with more intensity, pushing higher up the pitch.
However, in the 57th minute, a self-inflicted disaster occurred. Friese came out to collect Belgium’s long ball and tried to avoid the onrushing De Quetelaele, but hesitated to pass.
De Ketelaele jabbed the ball to Hans Vanaken, who scored the first goal from long range without making a mistake.
Pulisic limped off with an injury minutes later, ending the U.S.’s dream of reaching the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time since 2002 with him.
In the 79th minute, substitute Sebastian Berhalter took an ambitious shot that just missed the target. Balogun saved the next shot from close range.
However, Chris Richards handed the ball to Lukaku in stoppage time and the veteran striker had no hesitation to seal the rout.
