08 July,2026 09:24 AM IST | Seattle, United States | Agencies
Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere (second from right) celebrates his goal against USA with teammates Hans Vanaken (extreme left), Dodi Lukebakio and Youri Tielemans (extreme right) in Seattle on Monday. Pic/AFP
Belgium captain Youri Tielemans revealed his team had been fired up by the uproar surrounding Folarin Balogun after the Red Devils thrashed the United States 4-1 at the FIFA World Cup on Monday.
Charles De Ketelaere scored twice while Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku scored one apiece for Belgium. USA scored through Malik Tillman.
Tielemans said Belgium's players had held a team meeting after Balogun's shock FIFA reprieve and had vowed to make a statement against the World Cup co-hosts.
"Let's be honest: we held a meeting when we heard the news," Tielemans said of the Balogun controversy.
"We told ourselves we needed to do our talking on the pitch. That's what we did today. I'm very proud of the team," the Aston Villa midfielder told Belgium's RTBF broadcaster.
Balogun was named in the US line-up on Monday after FIFA suspended his one-match ban for a sending off in the last 32, but he made little impact in the match.
The shock FIFA decision came after an intervention by US President Donald Trump in a decision which drew condemnation across the football world.
Belgium football team mocked USA on their social media accounts after the match. "Overturn this," a post said, referring to Balogun's ban being overturned.
Six
No. of times USA have been eliminated in the World Cup round of 16 across seven matches, including their last four World Cup appearances (2010, 2014, 2022, 2026)
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