As Belgium thrashed 2026 World Cup co-hosts USA 4-1 in Seattle on Monday night, the newly-minted villains were dispatched and sent packing from the FIFA tournament.
Despite an energizing start to the competition, winning their group and looking impressive in the process, the USMNT had, through little fault of their own, become the target of global ire.
The public perception that the U.S. men were using governmental influence to gain an advantage soured many neutrals and supporters alike on their critical Round of 16 match, leaving the world to root for their eventual demise. The world got its wish, as Belgium torched the United States from start to finish, dismantling their counter-press and keeping their superstars in check.
Belgium themselves felt slighted, and that was made clear as they took the opportunity to verbally and emotionally degrade the defeated host nation by the end of the 90 minutes in Seattle.
Belgian players and soccer federation mock Donald Trump
After defeating the United States, the Belgian players drew one more nail in the USA’s coffin.
Following the stoppage-time goal from Romelu Lukaku to make it 4-1 on the scoresheet, the Belgium players mocked U.S. president Donald Trump by doing his signature dance in celebration of the goal.
🇧🇪 En el gol de Lukaku los futbolistas de Bélgica festejaron haciendo el baile que suele hacer el presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/AeVj4B0QwS
— Fútbol y Política (@FutboliPolitica) July 7, 2026
At the same time, the official Belgian national team X account posted a photo of Lukaku celebrating the goal, with the pointed caption “Overturn this” in reference to Folarin Balogun’s overturned red card suspension.
Overturn this. 🧏♂️ #USABEL pic.twitter.com/KcBAJp3Z7d
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) July 7, 2026
What did Donald Trump do to the Belgian national team?
Belgium fans felt as though football had done them an injustice when FIFA decided to suspend the one-match ban of Folarin Balogun triggered by his red card against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.
Making his involvement in the situation known was U.S. president Donald Trump, who spoke on Monday morning about the role he played in having Balogun’s suspension being reversed.
Trump revealed that he phoned FIFA president Gianni Infantino in the time between the win over Bosnia and Herzegovina and the match against Belgium, requesting that Balogun’s suspension be reversed. That was the eventual outcome, and regardless of whatever real or perceived influence Trump’s actually had on the FIFA disciplinary committee that came to the decision, the perception remained that the U.S. president coerced FIFA into making this decision.
