Belgium advanced to the World Cup quarter-finals after defeating co-hosts United States 4-1 in a round-of-16 match in Seattle on Monday, July 6, 2026.
The match was overshadowed by political interference in the tournament.
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FIFA's decision to suspend an automatic one-match ban for US forward Folarin Balogun followed personal intervention from US President Donald Trump.
This sparked widespread criticism from UEFA and political figures.
Following the victory, Belgian players celebrated by mimicking Donald Trump's trademark dance moves.
The team's official X account posted a message mockingly targeting the decision to overturn Balogun's suspension.
"A lot has happened off the pitch over the last two days," said Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin. He noted that the squad felt motivated by the off-field events.
Raskin added context to the team's motivation before the game, which ultimately set up a quarter-final clash against Spain in Los Angeles.
"There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field," Raskin said.
Belgian captain Youri Tielemans echoed those sentiments. "We told ourselves we had to respond on the pitch.
That's what we did," said Tielemans.
Belgium head coach Rudi Garcia praised the maturity of his group. He revealed he had a post-match conversation with the American forward.
"He came to talk to me, I really like that," Garcia said regarding Balogun.
Garcia clarified that the political storm surrounding the lineup eligibility did not alter Belgium's internal focus.
