Belgium defeated the United States 4-1 in the World Cup 2026 last-16 match held at Seattle Stadium, ending the co-hosts' hopes of advancing further in the tournament. Charles De Ketalaere was the standout player, scoring twice to help Belgium secure the win.

De Ketalaere opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a simple tap-in, capitalizing on a nervous start by the US team. Malik Tillman equalized for the US in the 31st minute with a deflected free kick that wrong-footed Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. However, De Ketalaere quickly restored Belgium's lead with a back-post header just over a minute later.

After halftime, the US played with more authority, but a critical error by goalkeeper Matt Freese allowed Belgian substitute Hans Vanaken to score in the 57th minute, shifting momentum decisively. Romelu Lukaku added a fourth goal in added time, prompting many US fans to leave the stadium early.

The match buildup was marked by controversy surrounding US President Donald Trump's unusual intervention, which resulted in a red-card reprieve for US striker Folarin Balogun.

Sources