Belgium defeats USA!
Belgium will face Spain on Friday in Los Angeles, California!
Seattle, Jul 6 (EFE).- By Iñaki Dufour
Belgium produced its finest performance of the 2026 World Cup, routing the United States 4-1 on Tuesday to book a place in the quarterfinals, where it will face Spain on Friday in Los Angeles.
Belgium struck early and never looked back. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice in the first half, opening the scoring in the ninth minute before restoring Belgium’s lead two minutes after the Americans briefly equalized.
Hans Vanaken capitalized on a costly goalkeeping error to make it 3-1 after the break, and Romelu Lukaku sealed the rout deep into stoppage time with his 93rd international goal.
Belgium played with urgency and authority from the opening whistle, a sharp contrast to its uneven group-stage form. The response after conceding the 31st-minute equalizer showed a decisiveness that had been missing earlier in the tournament.
The United States struggled to cope with Belgium’s high press and fluid movement. Any hopes of a comeback faded when Christian Pulisic left injured in the second half. Moments later, U.S. goalkeeper Matt Freese misplayed a long ball under pressure, allowing Vanaken to score into an open net.
Belgium coach Rudi García made bold selection choices, leaving Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku on the bench, but the reshuffled lineup delivered. De Ketelaere, who had yet to score in the tournament, justified the faith with a confident brace.
For the United States, coached by Mauricio Pochettino, the match unraveled quickly. Despite a momentary lift from Malik Tillman’s free kick that led to the equalizer, Belgium’s immediate response and sustained control left the hosts chasing shadows.
Belgium will now carry renewed momentum into a quarterfinal showdown with Spain. EFE
Scoring:
BEL—De Ketelaere 9, 33; Vanaken 57; Lukaku 90+3.
USA—Tillman 31.
Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle. Attendance: about 69,000.
Referee: Adham Mohammad Tumah Makhadmeh.
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