Belgium crush USA 4-1 in Round of 16, De Ketelaere stars in Seattle
Synopsis
Belgium's clinical 4-1 demolition of co-hosts USA in Seattle wasn't just a knockout result — it completed a clean sweep of North American exits at the Round of 16 and extended Rudi Garcia's unbeaten run to 17 matches. De Ketelaere's brace, Vanaken's first World Cup goal, and Lukaku's late finish underlined why Belgium are among the most dangerous teams left in the draw.
Key Takeaways
Belgium beat co-hosts USA 4-1 in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 at Seattle Stadium on 7 July .
Charles De Ketelaere scored a first-half brace; Hans Vanaken netted his first World Cup goal; substitute Romelu Lukaku added a stoppage-time strike.
USA became the last of the three co-hosts — after Canada and Mexico — to exit at the Round of 16.
Belgium are unbeaten since 20 March 2025 , recording 12 wins and 6 draws with a +40 goal differential across 17 matches .
Belgium face Spain in the quarter-finals at Los Angeles Stadium on 11 July .
Charles De Ketelaere scored a first-half brace, Hans Vanaken netted his first-ever World Cup goal, and substitute Romelu Lukaku added a stoppage-time strike as Belgium demolished co-hosts USA 4-1 in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 at Seattle Stadium on 7 July, booking a quarter-final berth. The result ended American hopes of a deep home-soil run, making the USMNT the last of the three co-hosts to exit the tournament.
How the Goals Fell
Belgium's superiority was evident from the first whistle. Timothy Castagne's 18-yard drive forced goalkeeper Matt Freese into an early flying save, and Youri Tielemans came inches from converting Dodi Lukebakio's cross before the opener arrived. Leandro Trossard's delivery into the box caused chaos in the USA defence, with Nicolas Raskin squaring for De Ketelaere to tap home.
Malik Tillman's deflected free-kick briefly levelled matters in the 31st minute, wrong-footing Thibaut Courtois. The equaliser lasted just 116 seconds: Trossard's left-flank cross found De Ketelaere, who headed home his second of the night to restore Belgium's lead before the break.
USA's Defensive Collapse
Just before the hour mark, a costly goalkeeping error compounded the hosts' misery. Freese raced off his line to clear but missed the ball entirely, allowing De Ketelaere to steal possession. Vanaken's subsequent long-range effort deflected off Tim Ream's attempted block and rolled into an empty net — the veteran midfielder's maiden World Cup goal.
The Stars and Stripes showed late resolve: substitute Sebastian Berhalter shot wide, and Courtois twice denied Folarin Balogun. But Lukaku, introduced from the bench, pounced on a loose clearance and finished with aplomb in stoppage time to seal a comprehensive 4-1 victory.
All Three Co-Hosts Eliminated
The defeat means all three North American co-hosts — Canada, Mexico, and USA — have now been knocked out at the Round of 16 stage. The USMNT's exit is particularly stark given the home-advantage narrative that had built around the tournament. Mauricio Pochettino's side, despite flashes of quality, could not withstand Belgium's clinical efficiency across 90 minutes.
Belgium's Remarkable Unbeaten Run
The victory extends Rudi Garcia's extraordinary unbeaten streak with Belgium. The Red Devils have not lost since 20 March 2025 — a 3-1 defeat to Ukraine in the 2024–25 UEFA Nations League promotion/relegation play-offs, which was also Garcia's first match in charge. Since that result, Belgium have recorded 12 wins and 6 draws across all competitions, amassing a staggering +40 goal differential across those 17 matches.
Historically, Belgium have now won seven consecutive matches against the USA. The only American victory in this fixture came at the 1930 FIFA World Cup in Montevideo, Uruguay — a 3-0 win at the inaugural tournament.
What's Next for Belgium
Belgium will face Spain — who eliminated Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal — in the quarter-finals at Los Angeles Stadium on 11 July. Garcia's side will enter that contest as one of the tournament's most in-form teams, and a genuine contender for the title.
Point of View
And the 4-1 margin could easily have been wider. What this result exposes is the gap between the USMNT's tournament hosts ambitions and their actual squad depth — Pochettino's side lacked the composure to hold shape when Belgium turned the screw. For the tournament, all three North American co-hosts exiting at the same stage is a reputational footnote the confederation will not welcome. Belgium, meanwhile, look ominously complete: Garcia has built a side that combines defensive solidity with clinical finishing, and their +40 goal differential in 17 unbeaten matches is not a statistical accident. Spain await — and that quarter-final may well be the real final.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score between Belgium and USA in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16?
Belgium defeated USA 4-1 at Seattle Stadium on 7 July in the FIFA World Cup Round of 16. Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, with Hans Vanaken and substitute Romelu Lukaku adding the other goals.
Who scored for Belgium against USA?
Charles De Ketelaere scored a first-half brace, Hans Vanaken netted a long-range effort for his first-ever World Cup goal, and Romelu Lukaku sealed the result with a stoppage-time finish. Malik Tillman scored USA's consolation goal.
Who does Belgium play in the quarter-finals?
Belgium will face Spain in the quarter-finals at Los Angeles Stadium on 11 July. Spain reached the last eight by eliminating Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.
How long has Belgium been unbeaten?
Belgium have been unbeaten since 20 March 2025, when they lost 3-1 to Ukraine in the UEFA Nations League play-offs. Since then, under head coach Rudi Garcia, they have recorded 12 wins and 6 draws across 17 matches, with a +40 goal differential.
Are all three FIFA World Cup 2026 co-hosts eliminated?
Yes. USA's defeat on 7 July means all three North American co-hosts — Canada, Mexico, and USA — have been knocked out at the Round of 16 stage. USA were the last of the three to exit the tournament.
