Belgium players appeared to mock US President Donald Trump and FIFA after eliminating co-hosts USA from the World Cup in a controversial last-16 clash in Seattle. The Belgium squad mimicked Trump's signature dance moves after their fourth goal in a 4-1 thrashing, while the team's official social media account responded to the pre-match furore over Folarin Balogun's overturned red card with the pointed message: "Overturn this."
The build-up to the tie was dominated by FIFA's decision to suspend Balogun's one-match ban, a move that followed personal intervention from Trump, who confirmed he asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to "review" the incident. USA striker Balogun had been sent off against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but the suspension was lifted, prompting an unsuccessful appeal from Belgium and fierce criticism from UEFA, who claimed FIFA had "crossed a red line" and jeopardised the "integrity of the game."
Belgium channel grievance into emphatic win
Far from distracting them, the controversy appeared to fuel Belgium. They raced to a commanding lead, with Romelu Lukaku and Charles De Ketelaere among the scorers. After the fourth goal, several players performed the Trump dance, a clear gesture aimed at the US President. The team's official X account then posted the now-infamous "Overturn this" message, complete with a photo of the scoreboard, mocking both Trump and FIFA.
"A lot has happened off the pitch over the last two days. There was a sense of injustice within the squad, and we were determined to respond on the field," said Belgium midfielder Nicolas Raskin.
Captain Youri Tielemans echoed the sentiment: "We told ourselves we had to respond on the pitch. That's what we did."
Reaction from the US camp
USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino refused to use the Balogun situation as an excuse for the heavy defeat, but expressed disappointment at the off-field drama. "I feel disappointed with too many people. They put politics and manipulation, talk about ethics and integrity [first]," he said. "My position was to train the team. If Balogun is available because FIFA allow for you to have the player, it's not a problem."
Defender Tim Ream insisted the noise had no impact: "No, it had no impact. We've done a good job with this group of allowing outside noise to be outside noise. It's got nothing to do with us as players and getting ready for games."
Key Takeaways
- Belgium's emphatic 4-1 win sends them into a quarter-final clash with Spain.
- The pre-match controversy over Balogun's overturned red card galvanised Belgium rather than distracting them.
- Players and the official team account openly mocked Trump and FIFA, highlighting the politicisation of the tournament.
- UEFA and critics have lambasted FIFA for compromising the integrity of the competition.
Quick Facts
Match result: USA 1-4 Belgium
Scorers: Lukaku, De Ketelaere, and others for Belgium
Red card controversy: Folarin Balogun's ban suspended after Trump intervention
Next for Belgium: Quarter-final vs Spain
Belgium's reaction: Mocked with Trump dance and "Overturn this" tweet
