Belgium beats US 4-1 in World Cup, mocks Trump
The United States men's national soccer team was eliminated from the FIFA World Cup on Monday, July 6, after a decisive 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the Round of 16 at Seattle's Lumen Field. The match was overshadowed by controversy and followed by pointed mockery from the victorious Belgian side, aimed at President Donald Trump.
The controversy began when Trump personally contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino to request a review of a red card given to American striker Folarin Balogun in the previous round. FIFA subsequently suspended the one-match ban, allowing Balogun to play against Belgium. The decision drew sharp criticism from the Belgian team and others in the international soccer community, who questioned political interference in the sport.
On the field, Belgium dominated the match. After Romelu Lukaku scored the team's fourth goal in second-half stoppage time, a group of Belgian players celebrated by mimicking President Trump's signature dance move near the corner flag. The team's official social media account later posted a photo of Lukaku's celebration with the caption, "Overturn this," a clear reference to the overturned suspension.