Belgium will now face Spain in the World Cup quarterfinals|@BelRedDevils|X
The United States’ World Cup dream ended with a 4-1 loss to Belgium in the Round of 16 in Seattle on Monday.
Belgium’s Charles De Ketelaere scored twice, while Hans Vanaken and Romelu Lukaku added late goals. Malik Tillman briefly leveled the match with a first-half free kick, but the Americans failed to respond after Belgium regained the lead.
Striker Folarin Balogun, whose suspension was overturned before the match, could not score. US coach Mauricio Pochettino admitted his team “was not good enough” and refused to blame the controversy for the defeat.
Ahead of the match, FIFA rejected Belgium’s appeal and upheld its decision to let Balogun play. The challenge followed the reversal of his suspension after President Donald Trump asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino to review the red-card decision.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s World Cup career ends in tears as Portugal suffered a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat to Spain in the Round of 16.
Mikel Merino scored a stoppage-time winner to send Spain into the quarterfinals.
The 41-year-old Ronaldo had said it would be his last World Cup.
What’s next
Spain will take on Belgium in the quarterfinals for a place in the World Cup semi-finals.