07/07/2026 03:19 - Deportes
According to TN, the Belgian National Team gave an authentic football exhibition, comfortably defeating the USA 4-1 in the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. The match, played on July 6, 2026 at the Seattle stadium, was a well-deserved victory for the team managed by Rudi García, who is now preparing for an exciting quarter-final clash.
The match brought an extra off-field ingredient: the presence of Folarin Balogun in the USA starting eleven. The forward had been sent off in the previous match against Bosnia, which regulation-wise should have left him out. However, according to media reports, a call from the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, motivated the application of Article 27, suspending the sanction for a 1-year probation period. Despite having their top scorer, the team managed by Mauricio Pochettino could not overcome the Belgian solidity.
Belgium's dominance was reflected in the numbers, especially in the effectiveness of their shots. Although the USA had more possession, the Europeans were much more lethal in front of the goal:
| Statistic | USA | Belgium |
|---|---|---|
| Possession | 56% | 44% |
| Shots on target | 7 | 15 |
| Successful passes | 444 | 329 |
| Fouls committed | 11 | 9 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 0 |
With this victory, Belgium sealed their ticket to the 2026 World Cup quarter-finals. Their next opponent will be the Spanish National Team, in a match scheduled for Friday, July 10, 2026 at 16:00 at the Los Angeles stadium. A high-level clash that promises to be spectacular!
Alfredo S. Quiroga
