Belgium Downs USA 4-1 in 2026 World Cup Last 16, Ending Host Nation’s Run

Belgium has ended the 2026 World Cup dream for co-hosts USA, securing a dominant 4-1 victory in the Round of 16 clash at Lumen Field in Seattle. The defeat marks a disappointing exit for the American side, who were hoping to advance further on home soil.

De Ketelaere’s Brilliance

The match was largely controlled by Belgium, with Charles De Ketelaere emerging as the star performer. He opened the scoring early in the first half, capitalizing on a pass from Johan Bakoyoko. Despite a brief equalizer from Malik Tillman for the USA just before the half-hour mark, De Ketelaere quickly restored Belgium’s lead with his second goal, ensuring his team went into halftime with a 2-1 advantage.

Second-Half Dominance

The second half saw Belgium extend their lead further. Hans Vanaken added a third goal, benefiting from a goalkeeping error by USA’s Matt Freese. The Americans were further hampered by an injury to Christian Pulisic, forcing him off the field. Romelu Lukaku sealed the emphatic victory with a well-taken goal in the closing stages, marking his third consecutive match with a goal in the tournament.

Host Nation’s World Cup Journey Concludes

The loss means the USA will not progress beyond the Round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup. Their best performance in the tournament remains the quarter-final appearance in 2002. The defeat also comes amidst controversy surrounding Folarin Balogun, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino reportedly present at the match.

Belgium advances to the quarter-finals, where they are set to face Spain. The match is scheduled for Friday, July 10, at 9 PM Italian time, and will be held in Inglewood, California.

Key facts
| Team | Score | Competition | Stage |
|———|——-|—————————–|————–|
| Belgium | 4 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | Round of 16 |
| USA | 1 | 2026 FIFA World Cup | Round of 16 |

This result is a significant blow for the United States’ aspirations in the 2026 World Cup, particularly as co-hosts. The performance highlights the gap in quality between the teams on the day and sets up an intriguing quarter-final tie for Belgium against Spain.

Source: TuttoMercatoWeb – https://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/mondiale-per-club/soccer-stati-uniti-mondiali-belgio-vince-3-1-cdk-spagna-2251162

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