The United States' World Cup journey came to an abrupt end in the Round of 16 as they suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Belgium. The match, held in Seattle, was marred by controversy surrounding the suspension of US forward Folarin Balogun, which was lifted just before the game. This turn of events, coupled with the team's disappointing performance, drew significant attention on social media.

Belgium Dominates the Match

Belgium's Charles De Ketelaere opened the scoring early in the ninth minute with a straightforward tap-in. The situation worsened for the USA when Hans Vanaken capitalized on a goalkeeping error, and substitute Romelu Lukaku later added a fourth goal, sealing the match for Belgium. Following Lukaku's goal, the Belgian players celebrated with a dance that many viewers noted resembled a signature move of US President Donald Trump, further fueling social media commentary.

Balogun's Impact and Social Media Reaction

Despite being included in USA coach Mauricio Pochettino’s starting lineup after his suspension was overturned, Balogun had a quiet game and failed to make a significant impact. The defeat marked a disappointing conclusion to the USA's campaign, which had generated excitement among fans. Criticism of FIFA's handling of the situation and solidarity with Belgium emerged before the match, but the USA's lackluster performance intensified the backlash during the game.

In a lighthearted jab, the Belgian Red Devils posted on social media shortly after the match, playfully challenging the USA's terminology by referring to the game as “football” instead of “soccer.” As the dust settled, social media users continued to mock the USA's performance, with some humorously suggesting it was as if the team had never played a match before.