Belgium controlled the match in Seattle, eliminating host nation the USA from the 2026 World Cup with a 4-1 win and setting up a quarterfinal against Spain. At Lumen Field, Belgium started an experimental lineup without De Bruyne, Doku or Lukaku. The changes did little to blunt the team's energy or precision as it took control early. The 2026 tournament runs from June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico. It is the first FIFA World Cup hosted by three countries. Seattle is one of the U.S. host cities.
Charles De Ketelaere opened the scoring in the ninth minute, finishing a decisive move from Raskin. The goal set the tone as Belgium pressed aggressively and created several chances in the opening stages. The momentum briefly shifted around the twentieth minute, when Onana suffered an injury and left the pitch in tears. Vanaken came on as his replacement. Soon after, Vanaken inadvertently deflected Tillman's free kick into the Belgian net, making it 1-1 and lifting the American crowd.
Belgium quickly settled back into the match. Trossard broke down the left and sent in a precise cross for De Ketelaere, who scored his second goal to restore Belgium's lead. The Belgians kept up the pressure after halftime. Then American goalkeeper Freese made a costly error, allowing Vanaken to score from distance and make it 3-1. Lukaku came on as a substitute and sealed the result with a powerful finish in stoppage time.
The USA struggled to respond, and Balogun missed a basic chance against Courtois. The loss ended the host nation's campaign, while Belgium showed tactical flexibility and ability to recover. Controversy over the lineups and recent debates surrounding Balogun drew attention to the match, but Belgium's performance made the team's intent clear.
The result sets up a quarterfinal against Spain on Friday at 21:00. Both teams will be chasing a place in the semifinals, making the fixture one of the tournament's most anticipated matches. The knockout stage has already delivered drama, including Switzerland's tense clash with Algeria in Vancouver, which drew attention from fans and analysts. For more on that match, read the detailed coverage at Switzerland's battle for a quarterfinal spot.
Belgium's win is a impressive achievement and another reminder of how unpredictable this World Cup has been. Spain is next, and Belgium must maintain its momentum against one of Europe's strongest sides. The result could shape the tournament's final stages and have wider implications for European football in 2026.
