Folarin Balogun returned to the front for the United States men’s national team, but the Americans were eliminated in the round of 16 at the World Cup once again.
It was a tame ending to the U.S.’ monthlong run, as Belgium overpowered the Americans — and quieted a once-loud Lumen Field crowd — in Monday’s 4-1 loss.
Charles De Ketelaere scored a pair of goals for the Belgians, and Hans Vanaken cashed in on a terrible blunder by goalkeeper Matt Freese to put the U.S. away.
Romelu Lukaku’s blistering shot from point-blank range off another giveaway in stoppage time was brutal but moot.
It marked the fourth time in the past five World Cups the U.S. was knocked out at this stage; the only exception came in 2018, when the Americans failed to qualify.
Belgium also knocked the U.S. out of the 2014 World Cup, but that match, which went to extra time, felt far more competitive than this one.
Poch Admits Belgium Superiority
“We were not the same team that during the tournament showed the quality,” U.S. coach Mauricio Pochettino told reporters. “Very bad day. Wasn’t our day in a collective and individual way. And we need to accept that sometimes this type of thing happens, per ESPN.
“But in a tournament like the World Cup, when that happens, you don’t have another chance.”
The US was sensational in group play and got a gritty, impressive win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in the round of 32, playing with 10 men for more than 30 minutes after the Americans’ top scorer, Balogun, was sent off.
So U.S. players and their fans had high hopes of making only the second quarterfinal in program history.
But the Americans came apart on Monday. Christian Pulisic was a complete non-factor, losing the ball 11 times in the first half, more than anyone else on the field. Sergiño Dest was so poor on the right that Pochettino replaced him at half-time. Balogun scored three goals and forced an own goal for a fourth in the first four U.S. games, but for most of the match he ran around in circles, never threatening in any meaningful way.
“Tonight was not a good performance probably overall,” midfielder Tyler Adams said. “It’s not what we look to achieve. There was a lot of things that we could have done better. I think when you concede goals that easily against the team of that quality and that caliber, it’s going to be difficult.
“We gave them good chances or even half chances and they finished them. It was just a little bit too easy today. So again, this was a moment to have the opportunity to advance and really try and do something special, but we fell short.”
Balogun’s Red Card U-Turn Sparks Condemnation
President Trump personally called FIFA president Gianni Infantino to push for a review of Folarin Balogun’s red card.
White House officials including Andrew Giuliani and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick were also said to be in contact with FIFA but the details of the calls have not been confirmed by the White House.
Belgium’s football federation said it was blindsided by the ruling, with Belgium’s own Nathan Ngoy also receiving a suspension for a red card against Iran with no exception.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia mocked the timing of the announcement while UEFA separately called the decision unprecedented and unjustifiable.
