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Lumen Field in Seattle, 3rd minute of stoppage time.
In the 3rd minute of stoppage time at Lumen Field in Seattle, Lukaku sent the ball into the net, making it 4-1. He didn't run to the corner flag or take off his jersey. He turned around, gathered his teammates in a circle, and started doing Donald Trump's signature scrubbing dance.
The New York Post captured it clearly: After scoring, he and several teammates formed a circle and performed this iconic Trump dance.
Just one day before the match, Trump said in a public speech: "If they beat us, I'll say the game was rigged—just like the 2020 election."
The Belgians heard him.
4-1. Mr. President, we've danced your steps for you.
Looking back at the 90 minutes, the hosts were completely outclassed.
The US had 56% possession, 7 shots with 2 on target. Belgium had 15 shots with 7 on target and 4 clear chances. Expected goals: 0.67 to 2.15.
The US themselves had zero clear chances.
In knockout games, possession doesn't matter. Possession without clear chances is slow suicide. The Americans held 56% of the ball, fiddling with it like a rosary all game without making a sound. In the 1994 World Cup round of 16, the US had just 4 shots against Brazil. 32 years later, on home soil, they managed 7. Same round, same predicament.
In the 9th minute, De Ketelaere broke the deadlock. Trossard assisted, 1-0.
In the 31st minute, Malik Tillman scored directly from a free kick, 1-1. It was the first time in 44 years the US scored from consecutive World Cup free kicks.
The American celebration lasted just 120 seconds.
In the 33rd minute, De Ketelaere scored a header for his brace, 2-1.
In the 57th minute, Vanaken capitalized on US goalkeeper Fries' error to tap into an empty net, 3-1.
Trossard created 17 chances in 5 games this tournament, with an expected assists of 2.16. The Belgians, with just 44% possession, made the hosts' 56% look like pointless passing.
On July 1, Trump personally called FIFA President Infantino, demanding a review of US forward Balogun's red card. Four days later, FIFA suspended the ban for one year under Article 27 of its Disciplinary Code. Among 13 red cards in this World Cup, Balogun was the only one in the main stage to get his suspension postponed—the red card stood, but the game ban was delayed by a year.
Trump then posted on Truth Social: "Thank you FIFA for doing the right thing and correcting a huge injustice!"
Balogun started the match.
Then the US lost 4-1.
The Belgian FA's statement was harsh: "If this call was truly behind this inexplicable decision, it tramples on the most basic rules of football and sports."
Pulisic is the face of this US team, with 76 national team starts.
When he was substituted in the 59th minute, he had 0 shots, 0 chances created, and only 1 touch in the opponent's box. After the match, he received treatment on the bench with a suspected right calf strain.
For Belgium, De Bruyne sat on the bench due to "fitness issues," with coach Rudi Garcia confirming pre-match it wasn't a tactical decision. Doku also didn't start.
Instead, 25-year-old De Ketelaere scored two and assisted one, becoming the first Belgian player to directly contribute to 3 goals in a single World Cup knockout match, earning Man of the Match.
As De Ketelaere was surrounded by teammates celebrating, Pulisic's right calf was already wrapped in an ice pack.
Onana got injured in the first half.
After the match, he appeared on the sidelines on crutches with a knee brace. Belgium expects him to miss the quarterfinal against Spain.
Three months ago, on March 28, the US lost 5-2 to Belgium in a friendly in Atlanta, with shots at 12-21 and shots on target at 5-10. The defensive gaps exposed in that match were ripped open again in Seattle.
The US, Canada, and Mexico—three North American hosts—all died in the round of 16.