Belgium Ends the USA’s World Cup Dream with a Dominant 4-1 Win in the Round of 16

A young US fan dressed as a referee shows a red card before kickoff.

US fans gather outside the stadium before the match. A banner depicts Balogun with the words "Land of the Free."

Belgian players celebrate Monday after defeating the United States 4-1 in a World Cup Round of 16 match.

US players react after the full-time whistle. The match was played at Lumen Field in Seattle.

US defender Chris Richards is consoled by coach Mauricio Pochettino after the match.

Fans react while attending a watch party in Kansas City, Missouri.

Romelu Lukaku celebrates after scoring Belgium's fourth goal late in the match.

US midfielder Malik Tillman reacts after Lukaku's goal.

The United States' Alex Freeman, left, competes for the ball with Maxim De Cuyper.

US goalkeeper Matt Freese reacts after an error gifted Belgium a third goal and made the score 3-1.

A fan watching from Kansas City, Missouri, reacts after a Belgium goal.

Belgium's Hans Vanaken passes the ball near the United States' Weston McKennie.

Charles De Ketelaere celebrates after his second goal of the match put Belgium up 2-1 in the first half.

People watch the match from the National Mall in Washington, DC.

Just moments before De Ketelaere's second goal, Tillman scored off a deflected free kick to tie the match at 1-1.

US fans react to a goal at the Old World Restaurant & Biergarten in Huntington Beach, California.

Toronto Blue Jays players watch the match during batting practice at Oracle Park in San Francisco.

The United States' Sergino Dest, left, and De Cuyper battle for the ball in the first half.

Pochettino gives instructions to Freeman during the match.

US fans, watching the match at a bar in New York, react after Belgium's first goal.

De Ketelaere celebrates his first goal, which came in the ninth minute of the match.

De Ketelaere directs his shot past Freese.

US striker Folarin Balogun, center, battles for the ball in the first half. Balogun was given a red card in the United States' last match, but he had his one-game ban suspended by FIFA.

Freese makes a diving save in the early moments of the match.

Jets fly over Lumen Field ahead of kickoff.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino, third from left, attends the match. At left is US Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin.

Balogun walks onto the field before kickoff.

Match officials and players line up for the national anthems.

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Contents

Belgium Ends the USA’s World Cup Dream with…🤖 AI Summary In pictures: Belgium knocks the USA out of the World Cup Takeaways from today’s game

In pictures: Belgium knocks the USA out of the World Cup

Belgian players celebrate Monday after defeating the United States 4-1 in a World Cup Round of 16 match. (Abbie Parr/AP)

Takeaways from today’s game

• Belgium ends the USA’s dream: The summer of soccer love is over for the USA’s World Cup squad after losing 4-1 to Belgium, and many US players were in tears after the final whistle. Two early goals from Charles De Ketelaere and some awful US defending allowed a third from Hans Vanaken. Romelu Lukaku added the final goal in the last seconds.

• Agonizing defeat: Added to the embarrassment was the fact that much of the world will take joy in the US’ humiliation after the controversy over FIFA’s decision to suspend Folarin Balogun’s one-game ban following a red card in the Round of 32.

• Trump’s role: President Donald Trump said he had asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review Balogun’s red card, sparking accusations of the US president interfering in the tournament.

• What’s next: Belgium will advance to the quarterfinals and face Spain, who beat Portugal earlier today.

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