​On Monday night, Belgium wore the air of invincibility as they delivered their most commanding performance of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, cruising past the United States with a 4-1 victory and even rubbing salt in the wound with a pointed jab at President Donald Trump. The cathartic win followed a day filled with controversy surrounding Trump’s alleged involvement in securing eligibility for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun. While Belgium basked in its triumph, its World Cup journey ended soon after, as they were eliminated by Spain in a dramatic quarterfinal on Friday, in a result that marked the abrupt close of their tournament run.
In a move that stunned the football world and provoked widespread outrage, FIFA announced that Balogun would be eligible to play despite appearing certain to miss the Belgium match due to an automatic suspension stemming from a red card in the previous game. The decision drew even sharper criticism when Trump himself confirmed that he had contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of Balogun’s foul and subsequent punishment. Belgium did not remain silent on the issue, openly warning the United States that Balogun’s presence on the field would trigger “all further actions.” Balogun did participate, and Belgium capitalized on the situation by delivering a dominant performance, vanquishing the United States 4-1.
In the closing minutes of the match, Belgian players could be seen mocking Trump on the field, reproducing the flamboyant dance move he often performs at his rallies, a gesture they repeated in the locker room. The team’s official social media accounts followed with a taunt, posting “Overturn this” in reference to the controversy. Belgium’s goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, spoke of feeling disrespected by the Trump-U.S. side, echoing the broader sentiment within the squad.
Despite the crushing win over the United States, Belgium could not sustain that momentum against Spain in the quarterfinals. The Spaniards opened the scoring in the first half, finding the net around the 30-minute mark, but Belgium answered back 11 minutes later to restore parity. The second half, however, proved decisive in favor of Spain. With the score tied at 1-1, Belgium faced a critical setback when their superstar goalkeeper sustained an injury while making a sliding stop, forcing Courtois to depart at the 70th minute and handing the task to backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
The ensuing minutes proved devastating for Belgium. Lammens briefly saved a shot from Spain, but he failed to secure the loose ball afterward, allowing it to rebound to Spanish midfielder Mikel Merino, who netted the decisive goal. The goal broke the deadlock and sealed Belgium’s fate, as they watched their World Cup campaign come to an abrupt end while Courtois could only observe from the sideline. The loss marked the end of Belgium’s 2026 World Cup run, a tournament characterized by a blend of controversy, swagger, and heartbreak.