IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Blake Dahlin
Folarin Balogun started for the US against Belgium amid ongoing controversy
The United States men’s national team’s 2026 World Cup run came to an end on Monday night in a damaging 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16. The USMNT were slight favorites heading into the matchup.
The United States were simply outclassed by Belgium, who will now take on Spain in the quarterfinals. Worse than the score, though, was the performance itself, which was easily the USMNT’s worst of the tournament and was marred by both a lack of cutting edge offensively and sloppy mistakes on the defensive side of the ball.
Belgium took a 1-0 lead after the first 10 minutes before the US equalized in the 31st minute through a deflected Malik Tillman free kick. The tie game was short lived, however, as Charles De Ketelaere netted for Belgium two minutes later, his second goal of the match.
In the second half, an embarrassing error by keeper Matt Freese led to Belgium adding their third goal in the 57th minute, and for there, the USMNT never really looked like they could go on and win the match. Lukaku added insult to injury by scoring the 93rd goal of his international career in the 93rd minute of the match.
Belgium’s victory in Seattle that sent them to the Quarterfinals pic.twitter.com/7YrmSzqTdw
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) July 7, 2026
USMNT striker Folarin Balogun sought out Belgium manager Rudi Garcia after controversial starting role in the Round of 16 match
The biggest story heading into the match was the eligibility of striker Folarin Balogun, who had a one-game red card ban controversially suspended by FIFA, allowing him to play in the match. Balogun ultimately started, played the entire 90 minutes, and totaled 21 touches, three duels won, three shots, and one shot on goal.
After the match, Balogun showed a touch of class by going to speak with Belgium manager Rudi Garcia, which the 62-year-old French coach “really liked.”
“He came to talk to me. I really liked that. It is not his fault; he is not the one to blame — that’s what I told him. I really appreciate the intention that he came to see me. I appreciate this player,” Garcia told reporters after the match.
Belgium head coach, Rudi Garcia, on his conversation with Folarin Balogun after the match:
“He came to talk to me. I really liked that. It is not his fault; he is not the one to blame — that’s what I told him. I really appreciate the intention that he came to see me. I… pic.twitter.com/F933UA7USE
— José Roberto Nuñez (@JoserNunez91) July 7, 2026