Belgium delivered a dominant 4-1 victory over the United States at Seattle Stadium on July 6, securing their place in the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, Hans Vanaken netted his first World Cup goal, and Romelu Lukaku added a stoppage-time fourth to set up a clash against Spain.
Key Performances and Milestones
According to FIFA, Romelu Lukaku scored in his third consecutive World Cup match for the first time in his career. De Ketelaere was named Player of the Match after his two-goal performance. The win also eliminated the USA, making them the last co-host nation to exit after Canada and Mexico were knocked out in the Round of 16.
Match Summary
Belgium started strongly, with Timothy Castagne forcing USA goalkeeper Matt Freese into an early save. Youri Tielemans narrowly missed converting Dodi Lukebakio's cross. The breakthrough came when Leandro Trossard's dangerous delivery into the penalty area caused confusion in the USA defence. Nicolas Raskin squared the ball across goal, allowing De Ketelaere to finish from close range in the 23rd minute.
The United States equalized in the 31st minute when Malik Tillman's deflected free-kick wrong-footed goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. However, Belgium regained the lead less than two minutes later as Trossard delivered another cross from the left, with De Ketelaere heading home his second goal of the match.
Second Half Dominance
Belgium extended their advantage just before the hour mark following a costly error by Freese, who rushed out of his penalty area but failed to clear the ball. De Ketelaere capitalized on the mistake before Vanaken fired a long-range effort that beat Tim Ream's attempted block and rolled into the empty net.
The USA attempted a comeback in the closing stages, with substitute Sebastian Berhalter firing wide and Courtois producing two saves to deny Folarin Balogun. However, Lukaku sealed Belgium's victory in stoppage time with a powerful solo run and composed finish.
Upcoming Quarterfinal
Belgium will now face Spain at Los Angeles Stadium on July 10 after the Spanish side knocked out Portugal in the Round of 16. The match promises to be a high-stakes encounter as both teams vie for a semifinal spot.
