World Cup 2026: USA bounced out by Belgium after Balogun furore; backlas...

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World Cup 2026: USA bounced out by Belgium after Balogun furore; backlash against Fifa builds – as it happened - The Guardian

Introduction

The United States’ World Cup 2026 campaign came to a shockingly abrupt end on Wednesday evening, as the Red, White, and Blue were eliminated in the Round of 16 by a ruthless Belgium side. The Americans, touted as dark horses for the tournament, stumbled to a 2-1 defeat, courtesy of a stunning strike from the in-form Charles De Ketelaere and a late, late goal from the irrepressible Michiel Hofmans. As the full-time whistle blew, the US faithful were left stunned, their dreams of a quarterfinal berth shattered by a clinical display from the Red Devils.

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The match got off to a frenetic start, with both sides trading blows in a frantic opening 20 minutes. The US, buoyed by the electric atmosphere at the 80,000-seater Q2 Stadium, began to assert their dominance, with the dynamic duo of Haji Wright and Jesus Ferreira causing chaos in the Belgian backline. However, the Belgians, marshaled by the commanding presence of Inter Milan’s Simon Mignolet, gradually began to assert their control, with the aforementioned De Ketelaere and Hofmans proving the difference between the two sides.

The breakthrough came in the 35th minute, as De Ketelaere unleashed a trademark, curled effort from the edge of the area, leaving US goalkeeper, Ethan Horvath, grasping at thin air. The Americans, sensing the momentum had swung, poured forward, but were caught off guard by a lightning-quick Belgian counter, culminating in Hofmans’ decisive strike in the 88th minute.

The US, desperate to snatch a late equalizer, pushed bodies forward, but were unable to conjure a meaningful opening, leaving them to rue what might have been. “We should have taken our chances when they were there,” lamented USA coach, Gregg Berhalter, in the aftermath. “We were the better team, but Belgium showed their quality and clinical finishing.”

Conclusion

As the US and their devoted fanbase dwindle back to reality, the shockwaves emanating from this defeat will be felt far beyond the confines of Q2 Stadium. The elimination, coupled with the controversy surrounding the selection of Nigeria’s Samson Balogun as the tournament’s top scorer, has sparked a renewed backlash against Fifa from a growing chorus of discontented voices. As the World Cup 2026 enters its final stretch, the questions surrounding the tournament’s integrity, and the perceived bias towards certain nations, continue to simmer, threatening to boil over.