Belgium ended the United States’ World Cup with a 4-1 Round of 16 win at Lumen Field, turning an early breakthrough and a ruthless second half into a night the USMNT could not pull back.
Charles De Ketelaere struck first in the ninth minute, finishing from close range after Nicolas Raskin’s setup. The U.S. answered through Malik Tillman’s free kick in the 31st minute, but Belgium restored the lead almost immediately when De Ketelaere headed in Leandro Trossard’s cross two minutes later.
Belgium punish the U.S. after Tillman’s equalizer
The U.S. had more of the ball, finishing with 56.2% possession, but Belgium carried the sharper threat. The Red Devils put seven of their 15 shots on target, while the U.S. managed two shots on goal from seven attempts.
Hans Vanaken pushed the game away in the 57th minute, scoring from outside the box after another De Ketelaere involvement. Romelu Lukaku, introduced in the 67th minute, added the fourth in stoppage time from Vanaken’s assist.
The loss closes a U.S. tournament that had shifted again less than 24 hours earlier, when Folarin Balogun was cleared to face Belgium after FIFA suspended his automatic one-match ban. Balogun started, but the night never became about one selection choice. Belgium’s finishing made the gap too wide.
It also continues Belgium’s late-tournament surge. After the extra-time comeback against Senegal, this was more direct: an early goal, a quick answer to the U.S. equalizer and a second-half finish that removed any comeback path.
The decisive moment came in the 33rd minute. Tillman had just pulled the U.S. level, and Lumen Field had a way back into the match. De Ketelaere’s header took it away almost instantly, putting Belgium back in front before halftime and forcing the USMNT to chase the rest of the night.
For Belgium, the quarter-finals await. For the United States, a home World Cup run ends in Seattle with a scoreline that reflected Belgium’s edge in both boxes.
