How Belgium Became the Team Everyone Wanted to Win Against USA

Belgium are not really used to being at the centre of global political scandals.

But when FIFA — shortly after a friendly conversation with US President Donald Trump — suspended USMNT striker Folarin Balogun’s ban for their round-of-16 match, Belgium were absolutely livid. They had President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio referencing them by name and, for a while, it must have felt to the country of around 11 million people like the whole world was taking them on.

Instead, the whole world was pretty much with them. FIFA’s decision provoked mass sympathy for their plight and stoked anti-American sentiment — a feeling that the rules were being bent to the host nation’s advantage. And Belgium, at World Cup 2026, have turned that fury into fuel.

The Balogun Saga: A Timeline

Anger, Opportunity and the Trump Dance

In the Belgium camp there was anger, yes — but they also spotted an opportunity. Their message was to not rise to the bait, take the moral high ground and let their football do the talking. Within the group, while furious about the Balogun decision, they were not short of belief — off the back of their stunning comeback victory over Senegal, when they were 2-0 down in the 86th minute and won 3-2 at the end of extra time, and with the knowledge that they had beaten the United States in a friendly back in March with Balogun in the team.

It was only when Romelu Lukaku scored Belgium’s fourth goal in Seattle that their true feelings were revealed — the striker’s cupped-ear celebration followed by the entire team performing the Trump dance on the pitch, and then again later in the dressing room.

Then came the tweet. Then came the mixed zone.

Overturn this. 🧏‍♂️ #USABEL pic.twitter.com/KcBAJp3Z7d

— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) July 7, 2026

Midfielder Nicolas Raskin called the Balogun decision an injustice. Dodi Lukebakio said he didn’t understand it. Thibaut Courtois said Belgium had been disrespected. Youri Tielemans revealed the players had held a team meeting about the scandal.

After the 4-1 victory, they were still aghast at the decision — albeit now with a smile on their faces. Staff said their phones had lit up at full time with countless congratulatory messages from across the world. They were aware of the global support and they appreciated it.

While publicly Belgium have moved on from the saga — and indeed, given the extra motivation it clearly provided their players, plus how it appeared to distract the US squad, it probably ultimately benefited them — in private, there remains a sense of exasperation at what they perceive as FIFA siding with the host nation and their president.

A Nation With History at FIFA

Belgium’s history with FIFA goes back more than a century. They were one of the founding member nations of the organisation in 1904, alongside Denmark, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. As Courtois said, they felt they were due more respect.

Belgium is a country renowned for having a relaxed attitude — it takes a lot to get them riled. But this crossed a line.

They feel proud of themselves for standing up to FIFA and feel they have been trailblazers in taking on the world governing body. Croatia have since lodged an appeal over VAR protocols used in their defeat to Portugal, while Belgium had also complained about their Los Angeles training pitch earlier in the tournament.

There was no blame attached to Balogun personally. The striker approached Rudi Garcia for a post-match chat, and the Belgium manager told him directly that he had no issue with him — only with FIFA.

“He came to talk to me, I really like that,” Garcia told reporters after the game. “It’s not his fault. He’s not the one to blame, and that’s what I told him.”

Garcia: The Maverick Who Nobody Knows What to Expect From

Frenchman Garcia adds an unpredictable, maverick element to the Belgium setup. The former Marseille, Lyon and Napoli manager was four minutes away from his Belgium stint ending underwhelmingly against Senegal. His contract runs only until the end of the tournament and, having substituted Kevin De Bruyne and Jérémy Doku, his decisions would have been ridiculed had Belgium gone out.

Instead, since the 86th minute against Senegal, they have scored seven goals — all with De Bruyne off the field — and looked a completely different team in both defence and attack, producing incisive, fast-paced football.

Garcia’s team selections and unorthodox calls during games regularly raise eyebrows. He dropped De Bruyne and Doku against the US. One backroom staff member, speaking anonymously to protect relationships, said:

“Sometimes even we are like, ‘What the f*** is he doing?‘”

No one seems to know what he will do next. And yet, somehow, it has worked.

Garcia has been explicit about his substitution philosophy:

“Games are won in two phases. The ones starting the games and the ones finishing the game. Since football allows for five substitutions, we’re playing a new sport. It’s a new dimension for coaching.”

Lukaku is the prime example — deployed as the late finisher, the one who ends games rather than starts them.

Overperforming With Less Famous Names

For years, Belgium underperformed with arguably the most talented generation in their history.

This summer, they are overperforming with far less familiar names.

Garcia wasn’t exactly popular with Belgium fans entering the tournament. But since the Senegal match, a website has been set up where supporters can apologise to him. Sorry Rudi had more than 10,000 apologies or comments posted on it as of Thursday.

Late Goals, Short Travel and a Quarter-Final With Spain

That combination of squad depth, Garcia’s two-phase game management and Belgium travelling the fewest miles of any quarter-finalist — three games in Seattle, one in Vancouver just over the Canadian border, and now a second in Los Angeles — has potentially contributed to them scoring six goals after the 86th minute in their last three games combined.

Tonight’s quarter-final against Spain adds an intriguing personal subplot — Garcia has Spanish heritage through his father. He has always admired Spanish football and studied its coaching philosophy closely. Now he faces it head-on, at the World Cup 2026 quarter-final stage.

Either way, expect Belgium to play without fear or pressure. Few expected them to reach the last eight, particularly after starting the tournament with draws against Egypt and Iran. Within the national federation, the target was the quarter-finals — using their pre-tournament FIFA ranking of nine as a benchmark. They have met that target. Everything from here is a bonus.

And whatever the scoreline with five minutes left to play — or indeed just in general — do not write off Belgium.

Read More: Why Spain Are the Hardest Team to Attack at the World Cup

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