Belgium Crushes USA 4-1 to Advance to World Cup Quarterfinals, Trump Warns of Rigging
Belgium defeated the United States 4-1 in the World Cup round of 16, advancing to face Spain. U.S. President Donald Trump claimed in advance that a Belgian win would be rigged.
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Belgium routed the United States 4-1 in the World Cup round of 16, ending the co-hosts' tournament run and setting up a quarterfinal clash with Spain, according to Complete Sports.
Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, Hans Vanaken capitalized on a goalkeeping error, and substitute Romelu Lukaku added a late fourth goal to seal the victory, the report said. The match took place amid intense scrutiny as the United States played on home soil as co-hosts of the 2026 tournament.
Prior to the match, U.S. President Donald Trump warned that a Belgian victory would be evidence of a rigged competition, Naija News reported. “If Belgium Beat USA I Will Say It Was Rigged,” Trump said, drawing comparisons to previous controversies he has alleged in international events.
Belgium’s dominant performance silenced pregame speculation, with the team advancing to the quarterfinals for the second consecutive World Cup. Spain awaits in the next round after securing their place through a separate knockout fixture.
The result marks a sharp setback for the U.S. men’s national team, which had hoped to build momentum on home soil. Belgian manager Domenico Tedesco praised his team’s focus, noting the pressure of facing the host nation in a high-stakes knockout match.