Belgium sarcastically celebrated eliminating the United States, one of the World Cup host nations, after winning 4-1 in the round of 16, directing sarcastic messages to the home team and US President Donald Trump.
The atmosphere leading up to the match, which took place on Tuesday morning, was dominated by news confirming that Trump had contacted FIFA President Gianni Infantino, demanding that the suspension of US national team striker Folarin Balogun be lifted.
FIFA responded by suspending the red card suspension, allowing Balogun to play against Belgium, in a decision that shocked the football world, despite Infantino's insistence that the decision had nothing to do with Trump's call.
The Belgian players admitted that this issue gave them an extra incentive to achieve victory, which qualified them for the quarter-finals to face Spain.
Midfielder Nicola Raskin said: "A lot happened off the pitch over the last two days. There was a feeling of injustice within the team, and we were determined to respond on the pitch."
After scoring their fourth goal against the United States, the Belgian players celebrated with a dance similar to the one Trump famously performed during his 2024 US presidential campaign.
Romelu Lukaku, who scored the goal, also celebrated by putting his hands behind his ears, in a sarcastic gesture.
The official account of the Belgian national team posted on social media, along with a picture of the Belgian striker: "Cancel this."
