Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin said the team felt “a sense of injustice” over Folarin Balogun’s suspended one-match ban and were determined to respond.
Belgium did just that, earning an emphatic 4-1 victory over the United States in the last 16 of the World Cup to knock out the co-hosts and reach the quarter-finals.
Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, on either side of Malik Tillman’s free-kick, with Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku also getting on the scoresheet to set up a meeting with Spain in the next round.
But all of the pre-match talk had been dominated by FIFA’s decision to suspend Balogun’s one-match suspension – following a red card against Bosnia-Herzegovina – for a year, with USA President Donald Trump saying he asked for the decision to be reviewed.
The Belgian FA said they were “astonished” by the decision, while Rudi Garcia criticised it, comparing it to April Fool’s Day, but Belgium were determined to put out a response on the pitch.
“A lot has happened off the pitch over the last two days,” said Nicolas Raskin.
“There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field.”
While captain Youri Tielemans added: “We told ourselves we had to respond on the pitch. That’s what we did.”
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) July 7, 2026
Belgium have reached the World Cup quarter-final for the fourth time, including the third time in the last four editions (2014, 2018, 2026).
They have also advanced in five of their last six World Cup knockout-stage matches against teams from outside UEFA, including the last four in a row.
Garcia’s substitutions once again helped the match, with the goals from Vanaken and Lukaku the fourth and fifth by substitutes for Belgium at this year’s World Cup, the most of any team in the competition.
And Garcia insisted his side were only focused on their own game plan ahead of kick-off.
“What really mattered to us was our game plan. We wanted to dominate the game, avoid their pressing and play higher up,” he said.
“We played with mastery, with willingness and dedication. It was a great night for us and a great qualification for the quarter-finals.
“We told them about what was happening [with Balogun]. The group is very mature. We have leaders to help us go through that.
“I told them that what mattered the most was us. Our team trying to set the game principles, whether it’s attack or defence.
“We were also underlining the strength and weaknesses of the opponent, but we’re not analysing anything more. We’re not adapting to the opponent. That’s not my style as a coach.”
Belgium will face Spain in Los Angeles for a place in the semi-finals, but will likely have to do so without Amadou Onana, who has reportedly suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury during the first half.
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