Belgium vs USA concluded with a dominant 4-1 victory for Belgium, as head coach Rudi Garcia praised the nation’s supporters following a commanding FIFA World Cup 2026 Round-of-16 performance in Seattle. The final puts Belgium in the quarter-finals where it will face Spain in a high-profile European battle.
Belgium got the first good opportunity and Charles De Ketelaere took full advantage, giving them the first lead and leading the attacking play. The US managed to catch them off-guard with a goal from Malik Tillman, but Belgium got the equaliser almost immediately, the second goal coming to them a minute later through De Ketelaere. This was a quick reaction that demonstrated the Belgian side’s composure and attacking effectiveness under pressure.
Belgian took advantage of the structural deficiencies in the US defence in the second half. On the other side, Hans Vanaken consolidated the advantage after a few laps of errors, reinforcing the discipline and control of Belgium in the transitions. Substitute Romelu Lukaku scored his fourth goal in the dying moments, in a thorough and well-rounded display.
After the match, Garcia lauded the efforts of Belgian fans for following the game at nighttime hours in Europe. He explained that this was an indication of Belgium’s stature as a football nation and that they fulfilled the expectations that were placed on the squad.
The outcome also brings a welcome end to the three nations of the Americas—United States, Canada, and Mexico—they will all lose out in a tournament where the top three teams go on to face each other in the semi-finals. This result further adds to the competitiveness of the knockout rounds where margins of execution are still close.
