De Ketelaere destroys USA: Belgium end Hosts’ World Cup dream with 4-1 rout

● Red Devils dump co-hosts out and set up Spain quarterfinal in Los Angeles

Belgium ended the United States’ World Cup run in brutal fashion on Tuesday, hammering the co-hosts 4-1 at Lumen Field to book a quarterfinal date with Spain.

Charles De Ketelaere was the executioner with a brace, as Rudi Garcia’s Red Devils exposed every crack in Mauricio Pochettino’s side and confirmed the exit of all three 2026 tournament hosts.

Mexico fell to England. Canada lost to Morocco. Now the USA are gone too.

—How Belgium broke the hosts—

The Red Devils struck first in the 9th minute. Nicolas Raskin’s low cross found De Ketelaere unmarked, and the Atalanta forward tapped in from close range.

The USA hit back in the 31st. Malik Tillman’s free-kick took a wicked deflection off Hans Vanaken and looped over Thibaut Courtois to make it 1-1. Seattle erupted.

The joy lasted 120 seconds. Leandro Trossard swung in a cross and De Ketelaere rose to head home his second, restoring Belgium’s lead before halftime.

Belgium killed the game 6 minutes into the second half. US goalkeeper Matt Freese dawdled on the ball, De Ketelaere pounced to win possession, and Vanaken curled a composed finish into the net for 3-1.

Substitute Romelu Lukaku put the final nail in stoppage time, smashing home from a tight angle to make it 4-1.

—Milestones and decisions that mattered—

Garcia’s call to start De Ketelaere over Lukaku paid off instantly. The 24-year-old scored his first two goals of the tournament and ran the US defense ragged.

Lukaku still made history. His late strike made him the first substitute to score 3 goals in a single FIFA World Cup.

For the USA, Folarin Balogun returned to the starting XI after FIFA suspended his one-match ban for 12 months. The decision came after controversy, with President Donald Trump saying he had appealed to FIFA, arguing Balogun’s absence would hurt the tournament. On the night, Balogun couldn’t find a way past Courtois.

—What’s next—

Belgium, quarterfinalists for the third time in their last four World Cups, now face reigning European champions Spain on Friday in Los Angeles. Spain edged Portugal 1-0 to get there.

The USA suffer a fourth Round of 16 exit in their last five World Cups. Their dream of reaching the last eight for the first time since 2002 dies at home.