The United States’ World Cup dream has ended in humiliating fashion, a 4-1 defeat to Belgium in the last 16 proving a chastening night for Mauricio Pochettino’s side.
The loss, played out at Seattle Stadium, represents the heaviest defeat suffered by the USA since 1990 and brought a painful conclusion to what had been a genuinely exciting tournament run for the co-hosts.
Fans who had arrived in buoyant spirits, surrounded by fireworks, smoke flares and a military flyover, were leaving their seats long before the final whistle had been blown.
Belgium’s fourth goal, an injury-time strike from Romelu Lukaku, prompted a mass exodus from the stands as the scale of the defeat became impossible to ignore.
The result came at the end of a turbulent build-up dominated by Fifa’s deeply controversial decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s red card from the previous round, allowing him to start against Belgium.
Balogun had been shown a straight red card for a foul on Bosnia-Herzegovina defender Tarik Muharemovic, yet Fifa moved to suspend the automatic one-match ban for 12 months.
The decision drew widespread condemnation, including from Uefa, Belgium and England manager Thomas Tuchel, and even reached the highest levels of American politics.
President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that he had asked Fifa to review the decision because he “didn’t think it was a foul”, adding further controversy to an already charged situation.
Belgium full-back Timothy Castagne summed up the mood outside the United States camp before kick-off, saying “It’s great to have the world on our side against the United States.”
Balogun, who had scored three goals at the tournament heading into the match, attempted to remain composed on the subject, saying “I accepted the decision when I was given the red card, and then I also accepted the decision when I was told I could play” and adding “There’s not too much else I can really say on the matter.”
Despite starting the game, Balogun struggled to impose himself on the contest as the USA never truly got going against a well-organised Belgian side.
Poor defending rather than attacking struggles proved to be the Americans’ undoing, with Charles De Ketelaere running riot throughout, scoring twice and contributing to the third goal in deeply damaging fashion.
The third Belgium goal was perhaps the most calamitous, with De Ketelaere dispossessing hesitant goalkeeper Matt Freese outside his area before Hans Vanaken side-footed into the bottom corner to make it 3-1.
Pochettino was candid in his post-match assessment, saying “Everyone saw from the beginning that we did not connect with the game” and acknowledging “We were never in the game, even when we scored the goal [to equalise], we conceded in the next action.”
On the Balogun situation, Pochettino was defiant yet clearly frustrated, stating “I feel disappointed with too many people” and insisting “They put politics and manipulation, talk about ethics and integrity. If we talk about the history of this game, I am disappointed in a personal way.”
Belgium manager Rudi Garcia revealed that Balogun approached him directly after the final whistle, with Garcia telling reporters “It’s not his fault, he’s not the one to blame and that’s what I told him.”
Midfielder Tyler Adams offered measured words on the broader picture, saying “This can’t be a direct reflection of what we were trying to accomplish” and adding “if we inspire a few kids on this journey then we have done something right.”
The USA’s exit follows fellow co-hosts Canada and Mexico in falling at the last-16 stage, raising questions about what the tournament’s legacy will ultimately mean for football’s growth in North America.
Pochettino’s own future remains unresolved, with his contract due to expire at the conclusion of the World Cup, and the Argentine offering little clarity when he said “Now it’s [time] to rest a little bit, to think, to have conversations and see what the decision is from the federation and from us.”
