Belgium ended the United States’ World Cup at Lumen Field on Monday, beating the host nation 4-1 to advance to the quarterfinals. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice inside 33 minutes and Belgium never looked in serious danger after Malik Tillman’s brief equalizer. Hans Vanaken and a stoppage-time Romelu Lukaku goal completed the rout, sending Mauricio Pochettino’s side out on home soil.
Key Moments
- 9′, De Ketelaere opens the scoring, finishing past Matthew Freese to give Belgium an early lead.
- 31′, Tillman pulls the USA level with a goal that briefly silenced Belgian momentum.
- 33′, De Ketelaere restores Belgium’s lead just two minutes after the equalizer, effectively deflating the home crowd.
- 57′, Vanaken makes it 3-1 shortly after halftime, putting the tie beyond the USA.
- 90′, Lukaku adds a fourth in stoppage time to round off a comfortable Belgian victory.
Tactical Breakdown
Belgium were efficient without being dominant in terms of possession. They finished with 44% of the ball but generated an xG of 2.15 compared to the USA’s 0.67, and their 15 total shots, seven of which were on target, told the real story. Rudi Garcia’s side were dangerous on the break and clinical when chances arrived, with De Ketelaere in particular finding pockets between the American lines.
The USA’s decision to start Sergiño Dest was undone before halftime, with Dest substituted off at the break as Pochettino tried to alter the shape. Christian Pulisic followed him off in the 59th minute, a sign of how little was working going forward. Belgium, for their part, had the luxury of withdrawing De Ketelaere in the 67th minute with the game already settled.
The USA’s 56% possession was ultimately cosmetic. They managed only two shots on target across 90 minutes, and Weston McKennie’s yellow card on 35 minutes complicated an already difficult midfield battle. With the game opening up after Vanaken’s third goal, Belgium had space to control the closing stages and Lukaku made it four from the bench to confirm the margin.
Player Ratings
World Cup knockout bracket
Knockout results, aggregate scores across legs; winners in bold, penalty shootouts noted.
Head to Head
Verdict
Belgium are through to the quarterfinals of the 2026 World Cup, while the USA are eliminated in the Round of 16 on home soil, a painful exit for a side that carried high expectations coming in as co-host. For Pochettino, the loss will prompt difficult questions about the team’s inability to compete when pressed by a technically superior opponent. Belgium, meanwhile, have the momentum of a convincing win and will fancy their chances in the next round.