Belgium sent the USA crashing out of the 2026 World Cup, and what happened after the final whistle drew almost as much attention as the scoreline.
In Seattle, the co-hosts were largely outplayed and suffered a 4-1 defeat in the round of 16, ending their home campaign far earlier than expected.
Much of the pre-match discussion centered on the controversy surrounding Donald Trump and USA striker Folarin Balogun.
Balogun had been set to miss the match after his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but his one-game suspension was lifted, allowing him to feature against Belgium.
After Belgium scored their 4th goal vs USA, the whole team mocked President Donald Trump by doing his signature dance move
Pretty savage troll, especially on US soil & after Trump fought to have FIFA review the bogus red card suspension on Balogun.
Well played 🤝 pic.twitter.com/HRgRwUUzNH
— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) July 7, 2026
That reversal angered Belgium before kickoff, with the decision becoming one of the dominant talking points ahead of the tie.
Belgium then produced the perfect response on the pitch and made sure their feelings were obvious once the match had been put beyond doubt.
When Romelu Lukaku scored their fourth in stoppage time, several Belgium players celebrated by mimicking the so-called ‘Trump dance’, the arm-pumping and hip-swaying routine that became closely associated with the president’s 2024 campaign.
The gesture also carried extra sting because it has appeared in football before. USA captain Christian Pulisic used the same celebration after scoring against Jamaica in the Concacaf Nations League, making Belgium’s version look especially deliberate.
The jabs continued online as well. Belgium’s official Instagram account shared an image of Lukaku cupping his ear and captioned it ‘overturn this’, referencing the dispute that had overshadowed the buildup.
Even before the game began, the Royal Belgian Football Association had voiced its anger, saying it was ‘astonished’ by Fifa’s call to lift Balogun’s suspension.
Belgium appealed the ruling, but the challenge was rejected. Fifa’s disciplinary committee concluded that Belgium could not be treated as an interested party because it had no involvement in the original incident and was only the USA’s next opponent.
Speaking about claims that he had influenced the matter, Trump denied directing the outcome.
“I didn’t tell [Infantino] what to do. I can’t tell him what to do, but, and I don’t believe he made the decision. I think it was a committee that made the decision, and they made the right decision, because number one, it wasn’t a foul, and you want to see a game with your best players.”
Belgium, though, appeared determined to make a statement. Balogun had little impact, and the result itself delivered the clearest response before the celebrations added another layer to the story.
They now move on after one of the most eye-catching knockout games of the tournament, with Belgium looking every bit the team to beat after dispatching the hosts so emphatically.
Fifa and the White House have been approached for comment.