Belgium ended the United States’ home World Cup run with a 4-1 victory Monday night in Seattle, advancing to the quarterfinals after punishing defensive lapses and a costly goalkeeping error. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice and assisted on another goal as the Red Devils knocked the Americans out in the round of 16 for the second time in 12 years.
The loss was a harsh finish for a U.S. team that had won three matches in the expanded 48-nation tournament, but was undone by mistakes at the back and a second-half sequence that swung the game decisively. Belgium extended its unbeaten streak to 18 games and moved on to play Friday in Inglewood, California, for a semifinal berth against France or Morocco.
How Belgium built the win
Belgium struck early, taking the lead in the eighth minute through De Ketelaere. The build-up began with a long diagonal ball to the opposite corner, and after a cross was blocked and popped into the air, the sequence continued into the penalty area. Timothy Castagne hooked a centering pass around Chris Richards, and De Ketelaere split Antonee Robinson and Tim Ream before redirecting the ball into an open net.
The U.S. responded and briefly revived the night when Malik Tillman tied it 1-1 in the 31st minute on a free kick. The chance came after Brandon Mechele knocked down Folarin Balogun about 25 yards from goal. Tillman’s kick deflected off Hans Vanaken’s head and went to the left of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who had dived right. According to the report, Tillman became the first player since France’s Bernard Genghini in 1982 to have two free kick goals in a World Cup.
But the equalizer didn’t last. Belgium regained the lead just 61 seconds after the ensuing kickoff. Leandro Trossard created the opening for a cross, and De Ketelaere outjumped Ream to head the ball past Matt Freese in the 33rd minute, restoring Belgium’s advantage and putting the U.S. back under pressure.
The decisive stretch came early in the second half. Belgium made it 3-1 in the 57th minute after a sequence that included a major error from Freese. Mechele lofted a long ball that Freese chested after two hops, then hesitated and scrambled before kicking the ball off De Ketelaere. Vanaken then hit a one-timed shot from 35 yards that deflected in off Ream.
Belgium’s fourth arrived in the third minute of stoppage time. Second-half substitute Romelu Lukaku, who entered in the 67th minute, finished after Richards’ giveaway. The goal was Lukaku’s 93rd international goal, according to the report.
For the U.S., the night also included an injury blow to Christian Pulisic, who hurt his right ankle on a 52nd-minute shot attempt when he hit Youri Tielemans’ boot. Pulisic was replaced seven minutes later and finished the tournament with no goals.
What the result means for both teams
The defeat marked another round-of-16 exit for the Americans and continued a long wait to match the program’s 2002 quarterfinal run. The report noted the U.S. has lost four times in the round of 16 since that 2002 breakthrough, and that Belgium extended the Americans’ struggles against European opponents. It also stated the U.S. hadn’t conceded four goals in a World Cup match since a 5-1 loss to Czechoslovakia in its 1990 opener.
Belgium, meanwhile, advanced with a performance that combined early pressure with ruthless finishing at key moments. De Ketelaere’s two goals and assist were central, while Lukaku’s late strike added a final exclamation point. Belgium now heads to Inglewood for its quarterfinal on Friday, with France or Morocco awaiting for a place in the semifinals.
On the U.S. side, the report also highlighted uncertainty around coach Mauricio Pochettino, who replaced Gregg Berhalter after first-round elimination at the 2024 Copa America. Pochettino’s contract expires this summer, and he has not decided whether to stay through the 2030 World Cup.