Belgium expose USA errors to end co-hosts' World Cup run

Belgium crushed the United States 4-1 in Seattle to end the co-hosts’ World Cup hopes, with defensive mistakes proving decisive. The Americans briefly levelled through Malik Tillman, but they never recovered from a series of costly errors and were comfortably beaten in the end.

The match began badly for the USA and got worse as Belgium repeatedly found space behind their passive defence. Charles De Ketelaere opened the scoring after hesitant defending, Tillman’s deflected free-kick brought the hosts level, and then Belgium were back in front almost immediately when De Ketelaere headed in at the back post.

That quick response knocked the USA off balance, and they struggled to rediscover the energy and pressing that had carried them earlier in the tournament. Folarin Balogun, whose red-card reprieve had dominated the build-up, was quiet throughout and had very little influence on the game.

The turning point after halftime was another costly mistake. Matt Freese was caught in possession outside his area, allowing Belgium to punish the error and stretch the lead to 3-1. Romelu Lukaku added a fourth in stoppage time after yet another defensive lapse, sealing a comprehensive defeat for the hosts.

The USA had looked much sharper in earlier rounds, but this was a different performance entirely. Christian Pulisic struggled to make an impact before going off injured, Weston McKennie barely threatened in attacking areas, and the team’s usual intensity simply was not there.

There will also be questions about the wider atmosphere around the game. The controversy surrounding Balogun’s red-card reprieve, and the public attention that followed, appeared to do the Americans no favours. Belgium, by contrast, looked energised and fully focused on the task.

For the USA, this was a sobering finish to a home tournament that had promised more. For Belgium, it was a convincing route into the quarter-finals, where they will now face Spain.