Belgium ends the USA's World Cup dream with a dominant 4-1 win in the Round of 16

[AverageOldGuy]

Source: CNN

• Belgium ends the USA’s dream: The summer of soccer love is over for the USA’s World Cup squad after losing 4-1 to Belgium. Two early goals from Charles De Ketelaere and some awful US defending allowing a third from Hans Vanaken. Romelu Lukaku added the final goal in the last seconds. Malik Tillman scored for the USA in the first half.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/06/sport/live-news/usa-belgium-world-cup-score

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Belgium - 4
Trump -1

Thank you, Donald Trump. You gave the Belgiques all the inspiration they needed to kick your lard ass.

[Ponietz]

1. The hate got to them

[Prairie Gates]

13. Go on...

[Ponietz]

14. The hate watch was successful

Shithole put a burden on them they couldn’t carry. Their heads were completely out of the game. They played with fear tonight, knowing that the entire fucking world was rooting against them.

Congratulations to Belgium.

[Prairie Gates]

16. Ah

[Ilsa]

21. I actually wondered if some of the key players

would "call in sick." They didn't seem to be in it, and yeah, I think 86-47 effed them up. This was supposed to be fun and honest, not manipulated by a lame duck.

[RockRaven]

2. The MAGAts who beclowned themselves by crowing over The Dotard's interference would be in shambles

if they actually cared about soccer.

[Lovie777]

5. shithole puts his hands on it..,..

[Chasstev365]

3. Everything Trump touches dies...

[Deminpenn]

4. The US men just aren't that good and honestly never have been

To make matters worse, they are paid more than the US women, who regularly play in and win championships.

It was amusing to hear the Fox broadcasters basically begging the viewing audience to keep tuning in to watch the sem-finals.

Let me add, in soccer, 4-1 is a blowout.

[littlemissmartypants]

10. This feels like a good time to note that, indeed, USWNT is the winningest team in international sports history

This feels like a good time to note that, indeed, USWNT is the winningest team in international sports history (win percentage: 84)

the18.com/en/soccer-en...

— Emily L. Hauser (she/her) ❌👑 (@emilylhauser.bsky.social) 2026-07-07T01:28:25.325Z

[sarisataka]

19. They are ranked 17th in the world

so making the round of 16 is a slight overperformance.

The top 10 teams (such as Belgium) are elite and at another level. That is what made Cabo Verde's draws so special. They were ranked 67th and held off top ten teams.

On the women's side, the US is the team to beat.

[Deminpenn]

29. While men's soccer is growing in popularity in the US, the best male athletes

still chose to play football, basketball, baseball or do track and field.

[sarisataka]

32. Different skills and different money.

It does not follow that the players on the US team are not good.

I am willing to bet there is not a single NFL player that could handle playing in a full high level soccer match. They are used to the stop and go bursts of their sport.

[maxsolomon]

33. They're paid the same since 2022.

https://www.npr.org/2022/05/18/1099739479/the-u-s-mens-and-womens-soccer-teams-will-now-be-paid-equally

The U.S. Soccer Federation said it has agreed with its men's and women's national teams to pay them the same amounts for all games and competitions and split prize money from World Cup appearances.

[SamuelAdams]

6. It's fine.

Trump will call FIFA and they will overturn this loss so the US will move on to the next round.

[FakeNoose]

7. It's nice that the USA team made it to the final 16

Belgium deserved to win, they played an awesome match.

After this I think most Americans are going to tune out of the World Cup games.

[Cheezoholic]

15. I agree. Belgium had their number earlier in the year also. I for one will be watching until the end

I love soccer. The beauty of the game is it's complex simplicity if that makes sense. I hate FIFA and wish the entire organization would be broken up and restructured, because the world so desperately needs the World Cup as much as it needs Democracy, WITH NO CORRUPTION! I wasn't going to let FatAss or the "Martian Leader" ruin the game or for me rooting for my home country because that's what you do. The US had some luck to get where they were but they are still a good team. Keep it up, we can get there. Its what its about

On a side note, that England Mexico game was phreakin' nuts lol.

[sarisataka]

20. I'm not sure what the TV ratings in the US have been

but the predicted viewership for the final is 1.5 Billion (for comparison the Superbowl this year had 125.6 million)

[nycbos]

8. Everything Trump touches dies

[neverforget]

9. The US can still win if Mike Pence has the courage

[catchnrelease]

11. That game was rigged!!!

[MissouriDem47]

12. Everything

Everything Trump touches dies.

[Grim Chieftain]

18. Maybe he could rub his head

And the place where his heart should be.

[MissouriDem47]

25. Great Idea

[Attilatheblond]

17. Maybe the team just didn't want to go to the White House & hear Stinky yammer that HE did it all!

[cannabis_flower]

22. Karma

At least no one can say that it was rigged

[C Moon]

23. Anyone else think some of the US players were saying "eff you" to trump?

They looked so weak. Nothing against Belgium, but the defense on one of the goals looked like someone was giving up.

[Wonder Why]

24. but Cheeto won yet another FIFA peace prize for cheating to get a piece of the prize.

[WSHazel]

26. FIFA Articles 14 and 19

The U.S. should be suspended from international competition for Trump’s call.

I hope it was worth it.

[Pas-de-Calais]

27. Rump curse yet again

[ahnakneemoose]

28. Final Score Correction

I have added a small final score correction from that within the original posting:

Belgium - 4

USA - 1

[70sEraVet]

30. My grandson is a big soccer fan, and DESPISES trump

I just told him that the only thing better, would be if the US team had been beaten by Denmark! -- that would have REALLY torqued trump's ass!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

31. Belgian national team mocks U.S., Trump after World Cup win

An X post from the Belgian side reading “overturn this” circulated Monday night.

Link to tweet

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2026/07/07/belgian-national-team-mocks-us-trump-after-world-cup-win/

First came the beatdown. Then came the mocking.

After Belgium throttled the United States 4-1 in the World Cup Round of 16 on Monday night, the Belgians had even more fun at the Americans’ expense, mostly zeroing in on the saga of U.S. striker Folarin Balogun.

His one-game suspension for the red card he received in the Round of 32 was lifted by FIFA on Sunday, after President Donald Trump requested a review from the governing body. The soccer world, and especially Belgium, responded with fury, accusing FIFA of placating Trump.

Thus, after the win, the Belgian national team’s X account posted a photo of the team’s fourth goal marked with the message “Overturn this.” Similarly, after that goal, many of Belgium’s players did the “Trump dance,” swaying their hips and rocking their hands back and forth.

Link to tweet

“A lot has happened off the pitch over the last two days,” Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin said after the game. “There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field.”

[maxsolomon]

34. They played disconnected - passing wasn't crisp from the start.

Their defense was disorganized and confused.

Offense couldn't get Balogan on the ball until it was too late.

The keeper made a mistake so egregious that I think he'll be off the national team.