Belgium is rejoicing after the country’s 4-1 victory ended the US’s World Cup run despite the controversial red-card reversal that allowed star striker Folarin Balogun to take to the field.

“Overturn this,” said a triumphant post on the Belgian Red Devils’ X account, alongside photos of jubilant players.

Former Socceroo Craig Foster, who had previously slammed US President Donald Trump’s “political interference” in the red-card controversy, also took to social media after the Devils’ win on Monday (Tuesday AEST).

“I’m sure I’d be joined by all Australians, in saying. That was a layup for Belgium,” he declared.

Overturn this. 🧏‍♂️ #USABEL pic.twitter.com/KcBAJp3Z7d

— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) July 7, 2026

A storm erupted in recent days after it emerged that Trump had phoned FIFA president Gianni Infantino asking him to reverse a red-card call on star US striker Folarin Balogun during last week’s game against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

FIFA later suspended Balogun’s one-game suspension. Its decision draw condemnation from the European football body UEFA, which said FIFA had “crossed a red line”, as well as the Royal Belgian Football Association, several national federations, senior coaches, officials and politicians.

“All I did was ask for a review because I didn’t think it was a foul. And, you know, again, I’m good at this stuff,” Trump said at the Oval Office on Monday (Tuesday AEDT).

But while the US was boosted by the presence of Balogun, Belgium still managed to knock the Americans out in the round of 16 for the second time in 12 years, extending their unbeaten streak to 18 games.

After winning three games in a World Cup for the first time in this expanded 48-nation tournament, the Americans failed in their quest to reach the quarters for the first time since 2002.

Respected broadcaster Andrés Cantor said that Belgium was “the better team”, while the US showed a different attitude to that of its previous World Cup matches.

“We don’t know whether the Balogun issue affected them or not,” Cantor said on Telemundo.

“Today the United States, perhaps not by coincidence, played their worst match of this World Cup. A national team that earned, through no fault of its own, the antipathy of the world.

“Today, people will keep saying justice was served, in the football world and in the world at large. The taste in our mouths, beyond the defeat, could have been a different one.”

I’m sure I’d be joined by all Australians, in saying.

That was a layup for Belgium. pic.twitter.com/vLuM8bqdF1

— Craig F̶o̶s̶t̶e̶r̶ (@Craig_Foster) July 7, 2026

In the crucial match against the USA, Belgian Charles De Ketelaere scored twice and assisted on another goal to help the Devils win 4-1.

American defenders were at fault in a pair of first-half goals, and goalkeeper Matt Freese’s gaffe gave the Red Devils a third early in the second half.

Second-half substitute Romelu Lukaku added Belgium’s final goal in the third minute of added time.

Malik Tillman levelled at 1-1 midway through the first half with his second free kick goal of the tournament, but Mauricio Pochettino’s men conceded just 61 seconds after the ensuing kick-off.

De Ketelaere put Belgium ahead in the eighth minute, the first time in this year’s World Cup the US conceded first.

Tillman’s goal in the 31st energised a largely red-white-and-blue crowd of 66,925 in Seattle, but De Ketelaere damped that and assisted on Hans Vanaken’s 57th-minute goal after Freese lost control of the ball in front of his net.

All six CONCACAF and Asian nations have now been eliminated, with the co-hosts US, Mexico and Canada all falling in the round of 16. All quarter-finalists will all come from Europe, South America and Africa.

Belgium pressed from the start and Dodi Lukebakio’s diagonal pass led to the opening goal. Leandro Troussard’s cross found its way into the penalty area, where De Ketelaere redirected the ball into an open net.

Tillman’s free kick deflected off Vanaken’s head and to the left of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who had dived right.

De Ketelaere outjumped Tim Ream and headed past Freese in the 33rd minute for his eighth international goal and Belgium built a two-goal lead when Freese was tackled and Vanaken’s first-time shot from 35 yards deflected in off Ream, who tried for an off-balance clearance.

Lukaku entered in the 67th minute and scored after Belgium stripped the ball from defender Chris Richards.

The Red Devils will now play 2010 champions Spain on Friday in California for a semi-final berth against France or Morocco.

– with AP