The Belgian national team showed absolute dominance as they faced hosts United States in the 2026 World Cup round of 16 match at Lumen Field, Seattle, on Tuesday (7/7/2026). The squad managed by Rudi Garcia successfully advanced to the next round after winning the match with a convincing 4-1 scoreline.
Charles De Ketelaere was the key figure behind this impressive victory. He not only scored two goals but also provided a crucial assist for his teammate. Meanwhile, Belgium's other two goals were contributed by Hans Vanaken and veteran striker Romelu Lukaku. The hosts were only able to pull one goal back through a free kick by Malik Tillman.
The match was fiercely contested from the opening minutes. De Ketelaere opened the scoring for Belgium in the 9th minute after capitalising on a well-timed pass from Nicolas Raskin. Although the United States briefly equalized through Malik Tillman in the 31st minute, Belgium responded quickly. Just two minutes later, De Ketelaere got on the scoresheet again with an accurate header.
Entering the second half, Belgium remained disciplined despite pressure from Mauricio Pochettino's squad. A goal from outside the penalty box by Hans Vanaken in the 57th minute further extended Belgium's lead. Although the United States tried to narrow the deficit, Thibaut Courtois' resilience in goal and a defensive error by the hosts in stoppage time, which was capitalized on by Lukaku, ultimately sealed an absolute victory for the visitors.
With this victory, Belgium is confirmed to advance to the quarter-finals. They are scheduled to play a crucial match against Spain on Saturday (11/7/2026) in the early hours of WIB, to compete for a ticket to the semi-finals of the world's most prestigious football tournament.
