Belgium booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a commanding 4-1 victory over co-hosts the United States, before appearing to take a swipe at US President Donald Trump in their post-match celebrations.
The Belgians dominated the Round of 16 clash in Seattle, comfortably dispatching the hosts, who struggled to match their opponents throughout the encounter.
The match had been overshadowed by controversy following FIFA’s decision to overturn the one-match suspension handed to United States forward Folarin Balogun after his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The decision came after Trump publicly claimed he had intervened on the player’s behalf, sparking widespread debate over political influence in football.
After Romelu Lukaku netted Belgium’s fourth goal deep into stoppage time, several Belgian players celebrated by performing the dance closely associated with Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. The gesture was widely interpreted as a tongue-in-cheek response to the controversy surrounding Balogun’s eligibility.
Belgium’s official Instagram and Facebook accounts also appeared to reference the incident, posting a photograph of Lukaku with the caption, “Overturn this,” in an apparent jab at the decision that allowed Balogun to feature.
Romelu Lukaku celebrates goal for Belgium against USA
Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin admitted events leading up to the match had motivated the squad.
“A lot has happened off the pitch over the last two days. There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field,” he said.
Before the match, the Royal Belgian Football Association criticised FIFA’s handling of the disciplinary matter and appealed the decision delaying Balogun’s suspension. However, FIFA’s disciplinary committee dismissed the appeal, ruling that Belgium was not an interested party because it had not been directly involved in the incident.
Belgium will now face Spain in the quarter-finals in Los Angeles on Friday.
Earlier, Spain edged neighbours Portugal 1-0 in a disappointing Iberian derby decided by a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Mikel Merino.
The Arsenal midfielder came off the bench to latch onto Ferran Torres’ pass before calmly beating goalkeeper Diogo Costa, sealing Spain’s place in the last eight.
Despite boasting an array of attacking talent, both sides struggled to create meaningful chances in a cagey contest that failed to live up to expectations.
Spain’s disciplined defensive display ensured they recorded a sixth consecutive clean sheet, becoming the first team in World Cup history to achieve that feat in a single tournament while remaining yet to concede a goal.
The defeat marked the end of Portugal’s campaign and also brought an emotional conclusion to Cristiano Ronaldo’s World Cup career.
The 41-year-old, who had announced before the tournament that it would be his final World Cup appearance, cut a dejected figure after the final whistle as Portugal exited without giving their captain the fairytale ending many supporters had hoped for.
Ronaldo managed Portugal’s only shot on target during the match, but Spain’s defensive organisation left the Portuguese attack largely ineffective.
The defeat also signalled the end of Roberto Martinez’s tenure as Portugal head coach.
Speaking after the match, Martinez confirmed he would step down, saying his mission had been to win the World Cup.
“I came to Portugal to win the World Cup and, without winning it, there’s no point in continuing,” he said.
“The board and the president now have the opportunity to choose a new manager. My contract ends today.”
Spain will now take on a confident Belgian side in one of the standout quarter-final fixtures of the tournament.