The United States’s World Cup dreams were dashed on Monday evening as the co-hosts received a 4-1 drubbing from Belgium in front of supporters in Seattle.
Belgian forward, 25-year-old Charles De Ketelaere, scored twice against the U.S., giving Belgium the lead in the ninth minute with a simple tap-in.
U.S. midfielder Malik Tillman equalised in the 31st minute with a deflected free kick which wrong-footed Thibaut Courtois, but De Ketelaere restored Belgium's lead little more than a minute later with a back-post header.
The U.S. played with more authority after the break until a calamitous error from goalkeeper Matt Freese allowed substitute Hans Vanaken to score in the 57th minute.
Romelu Lukaku then added a fourth in added time to send U.S. fans streaming for the exits and Belgium into the quarter-finals for the third time in the last four World Cups. They will play European champions Spain in Los Angeles on Friday.
U.S. Coach Mauricio Pochettino said the side failed to “connect,” with the game.
"Even when we scored the goal, 1-1, we conceded in the next action,” he said.
U.S. midfielder Tyler Adams said the defeat was disappointing.
"In the moments that we were doing well [in the tournament], we felt amazing. And then obviously, an opportunity like today, we didn't grasp it – and it's gonna sting,” he said.
The U.S. defeat means all three co-hosts are out of the tournament, after Canada and Mexico also lost their last-16 games.
The build-up to the game was dominated by FIFA’s decision to suspend U.S. striker Folarin Balogun’s one match ban, after the intervention of American President Donald Trump.
Balogun received a straight red card after he stepped on the leg of a defender during the U.S. team’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina on 1 July.
Trump described the decision to suspend the ban by a year as “brilliant.” But the decision was condemned by European football body UEFA, which said FIFA had “crossed a red line.”
Due to FIFA’s decision, Balogun started against Belgium but he struggled to make any impact.
Speaking after the match, Belgian midfielder Nicolas Taskin said the decision to allow Balogun to play wasn’t “fair,” but added that the result of the match showed there was “justice,” in life.
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