Belgium secured a commanding 4-1 victory against the USA in the knockout stages of the World Cup, effectively eliminating the last host nation from the tournament and advancing to face Spain in the quarterfinals.
Charles De Ketelaere was the star for Belgium, netting two goals during the match. His first came in the 9th minute, followed by another in the 33rd minute, just 61 seconds after the USA equalized with a free kick deflected by Malik Tillman.
A significant error from goalkeeper Matt Freese allowed Hans Vanaken to score Belgium’s third goal in the 57th minute, and Romelu Lukaku sealed the match with the fourth goal in stoppage time. Belgium demonstrated complete control throughout the game, with the USA struggling to mount a serious challenge.
Folarin Balogun, whose suspension for a previous red card was controversially lifted by FIFA before the match, participated almost the entire game but only managed to create one threatening opportunity.
With the USA’s elimination, all three host nations have exited the tournament, following the earlier departures of Canada and Mexico in the knockout rounds.
In a post-match jest, the Belgian national team shared an image on Facebook of their players celebrating, accompanied by the caption, “It’s called football, not soccer.”
Trump Admits Involvement
During a press conference, U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that he reached out to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, requesting a “review” of Balogun’s red card from a prior match against Bosnia, which had threatened to sideline the player for the knockout match against Belgium.
According to reports, Trump called Infantino hours after the USA’s victory over Bosnia, urging him to reconsider the suspension. “All I did was ask for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul,” Trump stated to reporters in the Oval Office.
Infantino later acknowledged that he received Trump’s call and reiterated that FIFA’s disciplinary processes are independent.
Belgium’s Criticism of FIFA
The decision by FIFA to lift the suspension sparked controversy and accusations of corruption from the Belgian camp. Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot expressed his discontent, emphasizing that he has always upheld the rules and fairness within the sport, stating, “This decision raises many questions.”
The European Commission also weighed in on the matter, with Glen Micallef, the European Commissioner for Sport, asserting that sports decisions should remain with sports bodies rather than politicians. “Many football fans, including former players, have expressed their views on Balogun’s suspension, and I believe it was a wrong decision,” he remarked.
Micallef added, “I have always been clear that decisions regarding sports rules should be the purview of sports organizations, not politicians. Influencing sports decisions undermines the autonomy of the sport.”
UEFA also condemned FIFA’s reversal of Balogun’s suspension, labeling it a “crossing of a red line”. UEFA expressed their lack of confidence in such unprecedented, incomprehensible, and unjustifiable decisions.
