Belgium advanced to the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup with a convincing 4-1 victory over co-hosts the United States in their Round of 16 match on Monday in Seattle. Charles De Ketelaere was the standout player for the Red Devils, netting two goals and assisting another, as Belgium dominated the game and earned a quarterfinal clash with Spain on Friday in Inglewood, California.
From the opening whistle, Belgium controlled the tempo and entered halftime with a deserved 2-1 lead after outplaying the hosts for most of the first half. The United States responded with increased urgency after the break, searching for an equalizer, but Belgium extended their lead in the 57th minute due to a costly mistake by American goalkeeper Matt Freese. Freese rushed out of his penalty area to clear a long ball but misjudged his effort, allowing Hans Vanaken to score into an empty net and put Belgium firmly in command. De Ketelaere was credited with the assist on that goal.
De Ketelaere had already made a significant impact with two first-half goals that exposed the US defense. The Atalanta forward scored in the 9th and 33rd minutes, capitalizing on defensive lapses to leave Freese with no chance. The US midfielder Malik Tillman briefly leveled the score at 1-1 in the 31st minute with a deflected free kick that beat Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, giving the crowd of 66,925 a moment to celebrate. However, Belgium quickly regained control when De Ketelaere headed in a cross from Leandro Trossard just under two minutes later, out-jumping the American defenders.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia praised his team’s performance, highlighting their mastery, determination, and the strong impression they made on the world stage. Conversely, US midfielder Tyler Adams acknowledged the difficulty of conceding goals so easily to a team of Belgium’s quality, admitting that the Americans gave their opponents too many chances.
De Ketelaere’s two goals marked his seventh and eighth for Belgium, following his earlier scoring in a 5-2 friendly win over the USMNT in March. He was named player of the match, describing his decisive role in a knockout game as a dream come true.
The US defense, considered a weak point before the tournament, struggled significantly against the ninth-ranked Belgians. US coach Mauricio Pochettino admitted the team did not show their true quality and that the match was a poor collective and individual performance.
Garcia made four changes from Belgium’s previous round win over Senegal, citing concerns over player recovery after extra time. He emphasized his desire for speed and high pressing in attack, which Belgium successfully executed. Belgium started aggressively, with an early shot forcing a save from Freese and captain Youri Tielemans missing a good chance shortly after.
In an effort to boost their attack, Pochettino introduced Giovanni Reyna at halftime. However, the US suffered a setback when star player Christian Pulisic had to be substituted in the 59th minute due to an injury sustained while attempting a shot. Another defensive error late in the match allowed Romelu Lukaku to score Belgium’s fourth goal during stoppage time after a turnover by Chris Richards.
US defender Tim Ream expressed his emotional struggle following the defeat, saying he needed time to process the loss. Pochettino also reflected on the painful elimination but expressed pride in the team’s overall campaign despite falling short in this match.
